How and Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines in Alaska

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• New vaccines target just one strain of the COVID-19 omicron variant, called XBB.1.5. 
• Almost everyone is eligible for the shots. 
• Vaccines are available at pharmacies, clinics and doctor’s offices. Search for vaccination sites by ZIP code at Vaccines.gov. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

• Pfizer and Moderna: The updated mRNA vaccines became available in September 2023 and replaced previous versions. The CDC recommends that people 6 months and older get the updated vaccine (no longer referred to as a booster), which targets a more recent strain of the omicron variant.

People 5 and older should get one dose of the updated vaccine, regardless of how many and which vaccines they previously received. Children 6 months to 4 years old may need more than one shot, depending on their age and vaccination status, according to CDC recommendations.

• Novavax: The updated vaccine, which uses a more traditional technology, was authorized in October 2023 for people 12 and older and replaces previous versions. It targets a more recent strain of the omicron variant and is an alternative for people who cannot or will not get an mRNA vaccine.  You will need two shots given three weeks apart for a full primary series. You may get a single dose if you’ve been previously vaccinated and have not received an updated Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine. 

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available in the U.S.

The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get a dose of the 2023/2024 vaccine for added protection, as long as it's been at least four months since the last shot.

People with compromised immune systems may receive additional doses, depending on their vaccination history. More information is available at the CDC’s website.

Dustin Safranek/AP

Vaccines are administered at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, clinics and other locations, such as doctor’s offices. Use the federal government’s website Vaccines.gov to search for vaccination sites by ZIP code. Get the same information by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check with your primary care physician’s office to see if COVID-19 vaccinations are offered. If you are a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. Sign up online or call 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.

Find more information about COVID-19 vaccines at the Alaska Department of Health’s website, the department’s Facebook page or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check your state vaccine records online through the Docket app. You may also request records through your medical provider or by sending a completed Immunization Record Request Form to the Alaska Department of Health via fax or mail.

The federal government no longer covers the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay. If you don’t have health insurance, or you can’t afford your insurance plan’s out-of-pocket vaccine costs, you can get vaccinated at an Alaska Public Health Center or a Federally Qualified Health Center, which will charge you a fee based on your income. No one is denied services due to inability to pay.

All children in Alaska are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines at no or low cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and the Alaska Vaccine Assessment Program (AVAP). AVAP offers vaccines to adults who are uninsured at participating clinics.

It’s safe and effective to receive an updated Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine at least two months after your last dose — no matter which brand you’ve received, including Johnson & Johnson.

The updated vaccines only target one strain of the omicron variant, called XBB.1.5, and are recommended by the CDC to protect against more recently circulating strains of the virus. The bivalent boosters, released in 2022, targeted the original strain of the virus and two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. The Novavax booster targeted only the original strain of the virus.

Vaccine manufacturers are once again working to update the vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. The redesigned shots, which should be available in the fall, will target a strain of the virus that is causing a significant share of infections this summer.

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Bring a driver’s license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state residency, along with your health insurance and vaccination cards, if you have them.

The CDC no longer distributes vaccine cards, and they are not required to receive a vaccine. If you’ve lost your vaccine card, you can call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record.

It’s common to experience mild to moderate side effects after getting vaccinated, such as soreness in the arm, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, fever or chills — but these are temporary “and normal signs that your body is building protection,” the CDC says.

A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced adverse reactions to the shots.

According to the CDC, it is safe to receive the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously, although you are a little more likely to experience side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. Adults 75 or older (and those 60 to 74 with certain underlying health conditions) who are encouraged to get the RSV vaccine may receive that at the same time as the others, but some health experts suggest spacing them out. If you had the RSV vaccine last year, you don’t need another one this year.

Contact your health care provider for more information.

The U.S. government no longer distributes COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities. That means nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings are responsible for coordinating COVID-19 vaccination programs for their residents and staff. Most long-term care facilities have partnerships with pharmacies or health departments to provide vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses. Long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars are required by federal law to educate residents, their representatives and staff about COVID-19 vaccines and offer a COVID-19 vaccine to residents, resident representatives and staff.

All vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and infections can still occur postvaccination.

Be aware that scammers often purport to offer COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and try to charge for them. The  AARP Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.

Alaska residents who believe they’ve encountered a COVID-19 scam can file a complaint with the Alaska Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit at 907-269-5200 or consumerprotection@alaska.gov.

Editor's note: This guide was last published Oct. 6, 2023, and has been updated with new information.

Grace Dickinson is a writer, editor and producer for AARP who covers federal and state policy. She previously wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her work has also appeared on sites including HuffPost and Eater.

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