The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) reports that about a third of children in the region ages five to 11 have received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Once they receive their second shot, that should boost the Y-K Delta’s overall vaccination rates, which currently stand at about 57% for the Y-K Delta; 61% of the eligible population.
Although only a third of children in that age group opted to receive the vaccine in this first go-around, YKHC said that number is similar to the vaccine adoption rates of other age groups in the first month that the vaccine was available to them.
YKHC began “Project Togo Jr.” in November. As part of that project, YKHC doctors have been traveling to every Y-K Delta village to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics in schools. The project began after the COVID-19 vaccine was approved for children ages five to 11 in late October. YKHC is finishing up the second round of vaccinations as part of Project Togo Jr. this month.
Children ages 12 to 18, who have been eligible to receive vaccines for months longer than the younger age group, are among the most vaccinated age groups. Their vaccination rate is 72%.
COVID-19 case counts have remained high in the region. YKHC has said that many of those are among children. However, the health corporation said that school districts have been able to keep in-school transmission low, with only about 3% of cases being transmitted in schools. The rest of the regions cases have been due to community transmission outside of schools.
On the horizon is the omicron variant, which scientists believe to be more contagious than the delta variant. Although not detected in Alaska yet, YKHC said that it expects to see cases of the new variant in the state within a few weeks. The health corporation continues to recommend vaccines as peoples’ best protection against all variants of the coronavirus.
For anyone that missed YKHC’s vaccination clinics in schools, you can call your local village health clinic or the Bethel hospital at 543-6949 to schedule an appointment.
