The fall 2023 COVID vaccine is now available!
Everyone 6 months and older are eligible to receive this new shot. This updated vaccine is designed to protect you against the strains of the COVID virus that are circulating now. Much like the flu, the virus that causes COVID changes over time and getting an updated vaccination now offers the best protection for this fall/winter season.
In Bethel, individuals age 6 months or older can receive a COVID vaccine:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, October 21, during Saturday Market at the Cultural Center.
- By appointment. Call 907-543-6442 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and ask for a COVID vaccine.
In addition, the vaccine will be offered for individuals ages 19 and older Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Gathering Place in the hospital.
To receive a COVID vaccine in villages, please contact your local clinic.
Vaccination decreases the likelihood a person will become seriously ill with COVID or experience potentially severe, long-term effects of an infection. People who receive the updated COVID vaccine are less likely to spread it to others, reducing the impact of the virus on our more vulnerable populations, such as elders, babies and the immunocompromised.
YKHC recommends individuals wait two months after their last COVID vaccine and/or three months after a COVID infection to receive the new vaccination. The COVID vaccine can be given at the same time as the flu shot. Experts recommend individuals receive both vaccinations. For complete review of COVID vaccination recommendations, see guidance at cdc.org.
Tens of thousands of people in the YK Delta and hundreds of million people around the country have been vaccinated against COVID, under the most intense safety monitoring efforts in history. Serious effects after the vaccine are rare and medical experts believe the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risk. If you have questions about the COVID vaccine, please speak with your healthcare provider.