FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2021
Contact: Sarah Richards, Public Relations Specialist
Phone: 907-443-4591
Nome, Alaska – On March 31, Norton Sound Health Corporation identified a positive COVID-19 case in a resident of the region. The case is considered to be community spread and the patient is now safely isolating.
There are currently seven active cases in the region. As of Monday, 53% of the region’s total population has received at least the first dose of the vaccine.
NSHC continues to vaccinate people ages 16 and older and anticipates that vaccines will be available to a younger population by this summer. Today, Pfizer reported that the vaccine has been shown to be safe and 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in over 2,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 to 15. The company plans to apply for emergency use approval from the FDA in the coming weeks. Moderna is also currently conducting studies in children between 12 to 17, and expects to share their finding in the coming months. Once the vaccines are authorized for use in this age range, the goal is to have vaccinations available before kids return to school in the fall.
The three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, have been proven to be safe and effective, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers be given the vaccine to protect themselves and their child. The Mayo Clinic says, “It is important to recognize that getting the vaccine is not just about survival from COVID-19. It’s about preventing spread of the virus to others and preventing infection that can lead to long-term negative health effects.”
If you would like to get vaccinated, please call your local clinic to find out about availability or to get on the waitlist for the vaccine of your choice. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, please reach out to NSHC’s medical staff for answers by emailing or by calling into NSHC’s daily call every Monday-Thursday at 11 a.m. at 1-800-315-6338; access code 03286#.
Stay up to date with the latest by visiting www.nortonsoundhealth.org/category/covid-19.
