Alaska receives 35,100 COVID-19 vaccine doses

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska has received 35,100 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, state officials announced Monday.

The shipment arrived Sunday night on a UPS plane, the state health department said in a statement.

The state planned to begin transporting the vaccine Monday to healthcare facilities across Alaska. That process will continue through Wednesday, and the state expects the first vaccinations to take place this week. Once facilities receive shipments, the vaccines could start that day for front-line healthcare workers, the department said.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is going to help Alaskans put the worst behind us,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said. “We will begin the process of finally getting the upper hand of this pandemic and getting our lives back to normal.”

The shipment includes 11,700 doses allocated by the Indian Health Service to Alaska tribes.

The state is working with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to coordinate shipment of the vaccine, including to rural villages.

Because of the state's unique geography and logistical issues, Alaska received its entire initial allocation of vaccine this week while other states are receiving shipments weekly, the statement said.

Since the initial supply is limited, the vaccine will go first to front-line healthcare workers, then long-term care facility residents and staff, those providing emergency medical services, community health aides and those required to give vaccinations.