With news breaking on Monday that Alaskans aged 65 and older will be able to schedule appointments to be vaccinated for COVID-19 beginning Wednesday, Kenai Peninsula residents may be wondering: ‘what do I do to get the ball rolling, and where will I go?’
Thankfully, the process is simple. The Alaska Department of Health and Human Services built a website where residents can easily check their eligibility, then check a map to find which local location would be most convenient for them to schedule an appointment. After the appointment is made, the first visit will allow each vaccine recipient to receive their first shot before receiving a reminder card about when the second shot will be given.
On Monday, the state’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink, noted that those opting to be vaccinated should also plan to stay behind to be observed after receiving the shot: “We do ask that people stay afterwards to be monitored. I just want Alaskans to be aware of that. It’s between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on if you’ve had a severe reaction to other things in the past. I think Alaskans should be prepared for showing up for their appointment on-time, but also, staying around afterwards for a bit to be monitored. It’s a little bit different than the flu vaccine and other vaccines that people should be prepared for.”
For residents worried about not having a location nearby, there are several on the Kenai that should be able to serve most residents in the area. These include:
In Soldotna:
- Soldotna Professional Pharmacy – (907) 262-3800
- Peninsula Community Health Services – (907) 262-3119
- Fred Meyer Pharmacy
In Seward:
- Safeway Pharmacy
- Seward Community Health Center – (907) 224-2273
In Homer:
- South Peninsula Hospital
Going through the website, or calling Public Health at (907) 646-3322, must be done before any appointments can be scheduled. Before calling the providers directly, follow all instructions that are offered on the website or from the telephone nurses.