Omicron Wave Prompts Rationing of COVID Medications in Alaska

Published at: Jan 14 2022 - 11:10 / Updated at: Jan 14 2022 - 11:10

According to state epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin, the state’s sampling indicates that omicron is causing 80% to 95% of Alaska’s COVID-19 cases. That means the treatments that do work against omicron are in extra high demand, according to APM.

“Right now, the COVID therapeutics are a scarce resource, and we anticipate that that will continue to be the case in the foreseeable future,” said Jeannie Monk, senior vice president of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association.

Alaska has a Crisis Care Committee, which met Wednesday and is about to release clinical recommendations for who should get first dibs.

Priority will be given first and foremost to people with compromised immune systems. Next, older people who aren’t up to date with their vaccines. Specifically, people age 65 and up with other health risk factors, or people 75 and up.