Alaska expands Tier 2 vaccination eligibility

Starting on Feb. 11, people in Phase 1b Tier 2 became eligible to sign up to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The state has expanded the definition of who is . That expansion includes certain categories of people age 50 and over:

  • People with medical conditions that put them at higher risk of COVID-19 complications
  • Frontline essential workers

Some university employees and students fit into one of these two categories. 

The state鈥檚  has a list of . If you are unsure whether your medical condition makes you eligible for vaccination at this time, you should speak with your health care provider.

The state website also includes guidance for what constitutes a .鈥 Two things must be true in order for someone to be considered a frontline essential worker:

  • Their work falls into one of the categories listed in the definition of an essential worker.
  • Their work duties cannot be done remotely and involve being in proximity to others.

If you have been required to work on site during the pandemic, and are age 50 or older, you may be eligible for vaccination. To check whether you are eligible to be vaccinated, on the state鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine website. Please only make an appointment if you are eligible. The tiered system is designed to make sure that the people most at risk have access to vaccines first.

You may see in news stories that the state has also expanded Tier 2 eligibility to include preschool and K-12 educators, regardless of age. This category does not apply to college and university staff and faculty members.

It鈥檚 great news that more members of the university community are now eligible for vaccination, however it鈥檚 also important to remember that vaccine supplies are still very limited, especially for the rest of the month. There will not be enough appointments, initially, for everyone who wants to get vaccinated. Please be patient with local vaccine providers as they work to make as many appointments available as possible.

The university does not currently have any on-campus vaccination events planned, but may in the future. In the meantime, we encourage any eligible employees or students who want the vaccine to sign up when appointments are available in their communities. The best source of information about eligibility and available appointments and vaccination sites is the State of . You can also find links, university-specific information and resources on the 

If you have been vaccinated, it鈥檚 still important to continue to wear a mask, avoid gatherings of people outside your household, stay 6 feet away from others and wash your hands frequently. The COVID-19 vaccine is effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization, but scientists are still studying whether it can prevent asymptomatic infection and transmission of the coronavirus to others.

The State of Alaska has launched a new tool for checking your eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Yesterday鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine update includes a link to the old tool and no longer works. To check whether you are eligible to be vaccinated,  on the state鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine website.