COVID-19 Vaccination Updates

Update 1/12/21

Norton Sound Health Corporation is now expanding COVID-19 vaccinations in Nome to the following:

• Everyone who was eligible before (frontline healthcare workers, first responders, long-term care center residents and staff members)
• Anyone 50 years and older
• Anyone 16-49 years old with two or more of the following high-risk medical conditions:
  • Cancer (current disease)
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD
  • Down Syndrome
  • Heart disease including heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy (not hypertension)
  • Immunosuppression from solid organ transplant
  • Obesity with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Smoking
  • Type 2 Diabetes
• Essential workers (among the following list)
  • Group 1 essential workers
    • First responders (NPD, AST, NVAD, NVFD)
    • Educators (teachers, support staff, daycare, college instructors and staff)
    • Corrections workers (adult and juvenile, Seaside Center)
    • U.S. Postal Service workers (and couriers)
    • Public transit workers and taxi cab drivers
    • Grocery store workers
    • Staff of homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and similar congregate living facilities
    • Office of Child Services and adult services staff
    • Fisheries/Seafood industry workers
    • Transportation and logistics (airline workers)
  • Group 2 essential workers
    • Food service workers (restaurants)
    • Shelter and housing (construction)
    • Finance
    • IT and communication
    • Energy
    • Media
    • Legal (court system)
    • Public Safety (engineers)
    • Water and wastewater (utilities, trade workers)
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Manufacturing

Vaccinations are still not open to people aged 16-49 who do not have two or more of the listed high-risk medical conditions or who are not part of Group 1 or 2 essential workers. NSHC asks people to please wait their turn and allow these high priority patients to receive their vaccinations first.

Book your appointment at our Picktime site.

*Note: Please pay attention to the Picktime appointment categories when making your appointment. If you have high-risk medical conditions, please include those in the remarks box when booking your appointment.

Posted 1/11/21

Below is a schedule for this week. The schedule is subject to changes due to weather. Make sure to get in while a provider is in your community. Doses may be limited.

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Posted 1/6/21

Norton Sound Health Corporation has temporarily closed appointments for first doses of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine in Nome, due to a very limited supply of first dose Pfizer vaccine. NSHC is expecting its next shipment of first dose Pfizer vaccine sometime next week, which will allow those currently eligible for first doses to continue to arrange their appointments. When this new supply arrives, appointment slots will again become available for those who qualify for a first dose. Everyone who is due for their second dose of vaccine will be assured of a second dose.

Please visit our Picktime site to schedule your second dose.

Posted 12/24/20

NSHC COVID-19 vaccinations now total 822. NSHC has opened vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers, residents of its long-term care center, first responders, elders 65 years and older and will be opening up appointments early next week for the Group 1 phase of essential workers, including the following:

1. Daycare and K-12 teachers and support staff
2. Grocery store workers
3. Cab/Taxi drivers
4. Airline customer facing workers including Pilots, TSA, Gate/Desk Agents
5. U.S. Postal Service workers
6. Corrections workers, including adult and juvenile corrections and Seaside staff
7. Staff of homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters and similar congregate living facilities
8. Office of Child Services and Adult Services Staff
9. Fisheries/Seafood industry workers

Group 1 essential workers can schedule an appointment at www.picktime.com/NSHC. NSHC asks that you wait until you are out of travel or close contact quarantine before scheduling an appointment. You will not be able to get your vaccination until you have been cleared by an NSHC staff member. Please be prepared to wait an additional 15-30 minutes after your appointment as a NSHC staff member monitors for any signs of vaccine reaction.

Posted 12/21/20

Posted 12/21/20

V-Safe is a text messaging-based app that is being used to monitor patients who have received the COVID-19 vaccination. The app conducts personalized health check-ins with each patient. V-safe will also remind patients when it is time to get their second vaccine dose if necessary. You can opt-in for this tool by visiting vsafe.cdc.gov after you have received your vaccine.

Posted 12/18/20

Posted 12/17/20

The COVID-19 Vaccine arrived to Nome yesterday. The QCC Residents and staff, direct patient care staff, and EMS/First responders/Fire Personnel in Nome are scheduled to receive the vaccine this week. The vaccine received yesterday, is very fragile and could not be shipped to the villages. However, NSHC will receive a special vaccine shipment next week, which will be prepared and shipped to the villages.  A written update will be provided to the communities when the vaccine is available.

NSHC plans to now start vaccinating Elders First by Date of Birth in Nome. Staff will communicate when NSHC is ready to start vaccinating various age groups. The first age group will be 80 and over starting on Monday, 12/ 21/20.  Please go to www.picktime.com/NSHC if you are 80 and older to schedule an appointment. In addition to vaccinating by age group,  NSHC will be reaching out directly by phone to patients age 16 and older with certain medical conditions, to invite them to pharmacy for a vaccination.

NSHC understands some community members are homebound. Please call or text 907-434-0461. Medical personnel will return your message and discuss a safe vaccine plan with you and your family.

Posted 12/10/20