As of Monday, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services datashow that 53% of Alaskans ages 12 and older have their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and about 47% of eligible Alaskans are fully vaccinated.
The State's goal is to vaccinate 70% of eligible Alaskans. To that end, Homer Unified Command expanded their incentives to vaccinate this week.
Anyone who gets a vaccination at a pop up clinic or at the COVID Care Clinic on Bartlett Street receives $40 in Homer Bucks, redeemable at over 75 businesses in Homer, and is entered into a weekly drawing for gift certificates to local businesses. Previously, the Homer Bucks were only available to people who vaccinated on the Spit.
People who vaccinated before the incentives were available can bring their vaccination card to Thursday's pop up clinic or to the COVID Care Clinic and enter the drawing.
DHSS Public Health Nurse Lorne Carroll says steadily climbing vaccination rates are helping to bring down the rate of infection in Alaska and on the Peninsula.
"Statewide alert level is at 5 cases per hundred thousand. That Intermediate level being 5 to 10 cases per hundred thousand. Down here on the Kenai Peninsula Borough we're at 3.8 cases per hundred thousand. The 3.8 puts Kenai Peninsula Borough in Low level alert status."Nurse Carroll said.
COVID-19 Pop up clinics take place every Thursday in June from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Boat House Pavilion on the Homer Spit .
Vaccines are also available without an appointment, daily from 9 am to 5 pm at the South Peninsula Hospital COVID Care Clinic at 4201 Bartlett Street.
They are also open daily 9am-6pm for Covid-19 testing.
Learn more about COVID-19 tests and vaccines on the SPH website
and the City of Homer's website.
Ulmer's and Safewaypharmacies, SVT Health and Wellness and Kachemak Medical Group are all administering COVID-19 vaccines.
If you are coming into the COVID Care Center for a COVID-19 test, if you have any questions about free, walk-in vaccines or if you just want to talk to SPH's 24-hour COVID Nurse, call (907) 235-0235.
