Alaska will allow anyone over the age of 16 to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the governor said. Michael Dunleavy (R) has announced Tuesday night, adding the measure is “effective immediately.”
Why it’s important: Alaska is the first state to allow people under the age of 18 to be vaccinated and eliminate eligibility requirements.
Details: “The Pfizer vaccine is available to people over the age of 16, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the Modern vaccine are available to people over the age of 18,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
- This is in line with FDA recommendations.
Note: Last week, Alaska made available to people over the age of 16 vaccines that could cause serious illness from COVID-19 or essential workers that were not covered by previous provisions for the health, the elderly and attention.
For the record: “Regions that include Kodiak Island, the Petersburg district and the Kusilvak census zone are approaching or exceeding 90% of vaccination rates among seniors,” according to the governor’s office statement.
- “In the Nome census area, more than 60% of residents over the age of 16 have received at least one shot and approximately 291,000 doses have been administered statewide.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new details everywhere.