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Confusion surrounding the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine in Alaska has led some Alaskans to try to book vaccination appointments before they are eligible to receive the vaccine, state health officials said on Saturday.
Tessa Walker Linderman, who helps lead the state’s immunization effort, and Alaskan chief medical officer Dr Anne Zink said in an interview that they had heard of cases of elderly people from Alaska attempting to make appointments over the weekend through the state’s website, even though they are not yet eligible.
Although Alaskans 65 and over are the next group eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, most will have to wait at least a few weeks to register for an appointment, the two health officials said. ‘State.
“There has certainly been a lot of misunderstanding on this specific topic with a lot of chain emails sent to a lot of seniors that we weren’t a part of,” Zink said. “We are trying to help clarify this.”
On Thursday, the state announced the scheduling of the next rounds of immunizations (phase 1B), with adults 65 and older topping the list, followed by some essential workers in public jobs as well as those living in places of assembly as prisons and shelters.
But the announcement came weeks before the time the vaccinations would take place.
The point is that right now the state is scheduling appointments for “phase 1A level 3” health workers, a large group of around 40,000 people who are likely to take appointments. at least the rest of the month to get vaccinated. .
Walker Linderman thinks the timing of the announcement was likely confusing for seniors who learned they were next to get the vaccine nearly a month before they could start receiving the shots.
“I think it was maybe an unfortunate moment that we were rolling out the actual level 3 (Phase 1A) vaccination at the same time as we announced the subsequent levels of Phase 1B, and so I think that could be part of the confusion, ”Walker Linderman said.
She believes people who heard they were eligible for Phase 1B likely went to the state’s website and saw that dates were scheduled.
“And although it is said quite clearly on our website that this is only for healthcare workers in phase 1A, people may not have seen this, and just go and make an appointment,” says -she.
Part of this is a website glitch: once you click on the shareable link that lets you find a provider to schedule a meeting, there is no mention of eligibility and limits on people. can make an appointment.
Walker Linderman said he has heard from many clinics in recent days following up in response to appointments made to ensure those who register online are healthcare workers who meet all Phase 1A criteria. level three.
“We are working on our website to clarify this, and I know our (vaccine distributors) are too,” she said.
In addition to the complicated messages, some areas of the state have already been able to begin immunizing their seniors with vaccine doses separate from the state allowance.
This is because the Indian Health Service, Department of Transport and Veterans Affairs are not required to strictly adhere to state phases and levels in their vaccine allocations.
Typically, however, Alaskan seniors without tribal affiliations who do not live in a long-term care facility will have to wait to make an appointment.
State health officials said they are still figuring out the best way for the elderly and others in Phase 1B to sign up for the vaccination once it is their turn, especially since it is such a large group: there are over 90,000 Alaskans over the age. out of 65.
“It will be the same link – going to our website will always be an option to schedule this meeting,” said Walker Linderman. “But there may also be additional options.”
It may be possible for Alaskans to visit their regular health care providers or a community center, she said. The Phase 1B deployment plan is still under development, and the best way to stay up to date is to continue to check the state’s vaccine website at covidvax.alaska.gov.
“We urge Alaskans to really pay attention to where we are at, and what level will be next,” Zink said.
But she said seniors and others don’t have to worry about missing their chance to get the shot, even if they don’t check the state’s website for updates every day.
“We will continue to meet these other levels as we move forward,” she said. “So even though we have moved to level two, if an older person decides to get the vaccine, they can get the vaccine whenever they want.”
Phase 1A, level one (available from December 15):
• Staff of long-term care facilities
• Residents of long-term care facilities
• Frontline healthcare workers and hospital staff who are frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, especially those who perform the riskiest procedures or who spend long periods at the bedside and whose absence from work would compromise their capacity of the hospital to continue operating.
Phase IA, level two (available from December 15)
• Front-line EMS and firefighters providing medical services, who are frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients and whose absence from work would compromise the ability of these essential medical services to continue.
• Community health assistants / practitioners
• Health workers proving vaccinations to the populations identified in phase 1A
Phase 1A, level three (available to schedule appointments from December 30, vaccination clinics available from January 4)
• Workers in health care facilities most at risk of contracting COVID-19 who are critical to the health care infrastructure and who regularly provide health care services that cannot be postponed or provided remotely.
They must meet the following criteria:
1. Have direct contact with the patient or have direct contact with infectious material from patients; and,
2. Provide essential services in a health care facility that cannot be offered remotely or performed by telework; and,
3. To provide a service in a healthcare setting that cannot be postponed without negatively impacting the patient’s short or long term health outcomes.
Phase 1B, level one (probably available end of January, vaccination clinics to be confirmed)
Phase 1B, level two (probably available end of February, vaccination clinics to be confirmed)
• Essential frontline workers * aged 50 and over
• People living or working in other collective contexts not covered in phase 1A
Phase 1B, level three (vaccination schedule to be confirmed)
• People aged 55 to 64
• All people 16 years of age and over living in “unserved communities”
• Essential frontline workers * aged 16-50 with two or more high-risk health conditions
Phase 1B, level four (vaccination schedule to be confirmed)
• People aged 50 and over with two or more high-risk health problems
• Essential front line workers * aged 16 to 50 not covered in levels one to three
* The state defines essential front-line workers as “those people who work in sectors critical to the functioning of society and who are at considerably higher risk of exposure to the virus, as their work-related tasks must be performed on the job. place and involve being in close proximity (within six feet) of the public or colleagues. “
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