The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation is hosting two virtual Q&A sessions for the public to learn more about the coronavirus vaccines coming to the region. Both sessions will occur next week, on Monday, Dec. 21 and Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The Dec. 21 event is a virtual townhall with health officials from YKHC, National Institutes of Health, and Indian Health Service. It will stream on Zoom and Facebook from 1 to 2 p.m., and air live on KYUK 640 AM. You can submit your questions over Zoom or Facebook during the event. Find the registration link here.
Panelists for the Dec. 21 event:
- Dan Winkelman, YKHC President and CEO
- Dr. Ellen Hodges, YKHC Chief of Staff
- Dr. Larry Corey, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Co-Principal Investigator in Vaccines with the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN)
- Dr. Juliana Blome, NIH Tribal Health Research Office
- RADM Michael Weahkee, IHS Director
- Evangelyn Dotomain, IHS Alaska Area Director
- RADM Francis Frazier, Director of the IHS Office of Public Health Support and IHS COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Lead
- CDR Holly Van Lew, IHS COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Deputy Lead
- CDR Kailee Fretland, IHS COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Deputy Lead
The Dec. 22 event is for essential workers and critical infrastructure employees, two groups who may qualify for an early phase of vaccine distribution. The session is hosted by YKHC and will include state health specialists. The event will stream on Zoom and Facebook from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and it will also air live on KYUK 640 AM. Essential workers and critical infrastructure employees can register and submit their questions over Zoom or Facebook during the event. Find the link to the event here.
Panelists for the Dec. 22 event:
- Dr. Ellen Hodges, YKHC Chief of Staff
- Dr. Anne Zink, State of Alaska Chief Medical Officer
- Tessa Walker Linderman, Department of Health and Social Services Nurse
Under state and federal guidelines, essential and critical infrastructure in the region includes “airlines, transportation/cab companies, construction companies, grocery/convenience stores, post offices, frontline service organizations, utilities, COVID-19 response teams/quarantine workers, and law enforcement/first responders,” according to YKHC.
Correction: A previous version of this story said that Dr. Larry Corey's professional affliation is with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. That is incorrect. Corey is the Co-Principal Investigator in Vaccines with the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN), and his professional afflication is with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
