Serving our people: COVID-19 response

Throughout 2020, people all across Alaska took public health precautions against COVID-19 spread. This included wearing face masks, practicing physical distancing and limiting social bubbles.

In late 2020, we were excited to welcome a new tool against the pandemic: the arrival of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine options.

ANTHC and the Tribal health system participated in Alaska’s Vaccine Task Force to prepare for statewide distribution of vaccines. Coordinating health care across Alaska is challenging in ordinary circumstances, but the logistical challenges associated with COVID-19 vaccines meant that greater coordination was necessary. Luckily for Alaska, the Tribal health system was already used to working together.

While initial vaccine supply was limited, thanks to the collaboration and coordination in our communities, especially rural locations, Alaska held the top spot for highest rate of COVID-19 vaccine for the first few months of 2021. Tribal health organizations allowed more groups of people to be eligible for vaccination by virtue of the Tribal self-governance status that allows Tribal entities to make decisions on health care.

And so COVID-19 vaccines flowed through communities on small planes, in community vaccination clinics and other delivery that included ATVs, sleds and water taxis.

ANTHC coordinated distribution of the vaccines allocated to Tribal health partners, which helped increase health protections for all Alaskans. Many Tribal health organizations also offered the vaccinations to non-Tribal beneficiary community members after the initial distribution to eligible people served by Tribal health providers.

Members of the Alaska Tribal Health System were also among the first organizations to establish COVID-19 vaccination mandates for employees, because many of our employees saw the first-hand impacts of the disease.

ANMC hospital medicine physician, Dr. Linnea Smith, was among the first 10 health care providers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020. She cares for patients who are hospitalized at ANMC, including many COVID-19 patients.

“As I was trying to decide whether or not to be one of the first people to get this vaccine, I thought about the remote possibility of vaccine risks that we’re not aware of, but we very well know what the serious risks are from COVID-19,” said Smith. “Every day, I’m taking care of patients who are dying from COVID-19. We know what COVID-19 is capable of. So, I decided I would much rather take a small possible risk in order to avoid contracting this very serious disease.”