Southcentral Foundation opens COVID-19 vaccines to all Alaskans 40 and up, teachers and child care workers

Anchorage’s main tribal health care provider is opening up COVID-19 vaccines to all Alaskans age 40 and older, plus K-12 teachers and childcare workers, according to APM. 

Southcentral Foundation said in its Monday announcement that it will continue to provide vaccine appointments to its Alaska Native customer-owners. The vaccine for non-beneficiaries will be offered “as supply allows,” the release said.

The foundation has already vaccinated over 19,000 people, according to Sharon Leighow, a spokesperson for Southcentral Foundation.

The healthcare organization gets its vaccine allotment from the Indian Health Service, which distributes vaccines separately from the state of Alaska’s allocation. Alaska recently announced that the two separate streams of vaccine would receive 103,000 doses in March, nearly double what it received in February.