By Sentinel Staff
The arrival of COVID-19 variants in Alaska adds urgency to the need for Sitkans 16 and older to get vaccinated, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium said today.
In a news release, SEARHC said Brazilian and United Kingdom variants have been identified in Alaska, and urged those 16 and older to register for a vaccine and get vaccinated to “protect themselves and their communities from these quick spreading variants.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines already in use protect against the known mutations of the UK, South African and Brazilian variants that were identified in the U.S. in late 2020. CDC does not have data yet on the effectiveness of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine against the variant strains.
“The CDC is monitoring all variants closely to ensure continued vaccine effectiveness,” SEARHC says. “The CDC states that the variants appear to spread more easily and quickly, leading to more COVID-19 cases and increasing the strain on healthcare facilities through added hospitalizations.”
Dr. Elliot Bruhl, SEARHC senior vice president and chief medical officer, said in the news release:
“Viruses continually evolve and mutate, so the presence of variants is expected. ... Early studies show that these variants are more easily transmissible, which is concerning, but I’m encouraged by the studies that show vaccines continue to be effective against these variations. SEARHC urges all who are eligible to receive a vaccine to sign up to protect our region further.”
At the same time, local health officials urge “strict adherence to public health measures to limit the virus’s impact on our region – such as social distancing, use of masks, hand hygiene, and staying home when sick – even after a patient has been fully vaccinated.”
The news release said those 16 and older who have not yet been vaccinated are being encouraged to register online at covid19.searhc.org. A valid email address is required to sign up. Young people under 18 must have parental or guardian consent prior to being vaccinated, the news release says.
There is no out-of-pocket cost for receiving the vaccine in Sitka.
SEARHC is one of three entities in town providing vaccinations to Sitkans. Others are the state Division of Public Health, which is currently reaching the seafood processing companies and outlying villages, and Harry Race Pharmacy, which has regular clinics for the public at the Sitka Fire Hall, offering the Moderna vaccine. Signups are available through https://www.sitkapharmacies.com/covid-19
The minimum age is 16 to get the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is available to those 18 and over. About 100 doses were administered here of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, for those 18 and up.
In Sitka 4,277 residents have received one or more doses of vaccine, and 3,515 are “fully vaccinated,” according to the city webpage.
New positive tests for COVID were added to the dashboard in the last two days: a symptomatic woman (resident) in her 60s, tested March 15 with results posted today; and an asymptomatic nonresident man in his 20s tested Tuesday with results received the same day.
Most of the recent cases are attributed to “community spread.” There two active cases on the dashboard, which shows a 14-day rolling average of .29 cases per day.
