Dear Neighbors,
This week, Alaska became the first state in the nation to offer any adult a COVID-19 vaccination. Anyone over the age of 16 can get the Pfizer vaccine and anyone over the age of 18 can get the Moderna vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Getting vaccinated from COVID-19 can allow you to resume the kind of activities that we took for granted prior to the pandemic. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Fully vaccinated individuals can hold small indoor gatherings in private homes with other fully vaccinated individuals.
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Vaccinated people may gather in a private residence with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for developing severe disease if they contract the coronavirus. (Masks and social distancing are not required)
- Vaccinated Americans do not have to quarantine or get tested if they have a known exposure to the virus, as long as they do not develop symptoms of infection.
By almost every standard, Alaska has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic better than any other state. Some of that success is due to our small population and the fact that we live in a huge state where people have room to spread out. However, I think our success is also due to the seriousness by which Alaskans took the pandemic from the very start. The vast majority of Alaskans embraced commonsense preventative measures like wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand washing.
As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into its second year, now is not the time to get complacent. Life can soon return to normal if we are careful and patient for a little while longer.
I’m here to serve you. If you have questions or concerns, please contact my office at rep.chris.tuck@akleg.gov or call (907) 465-2095.
Please be safe,
