As Alaska sets new COVID-19 hospitalization record, Mat-Su vaccinations rising very slowly

As Alaska continues to set hospitalization records for COVID-19, vaccination rates are slowly rising in the Mat-Su, though still lag significantly behind the state average.

According to the most recent update to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Service’s COVID-19 dashboard, 801 new cases were reported on Tuesday, and the number hospitalized with the disease beat the previous day’s record with a new total of 162. Officials say the large majority of those hospitalized with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated.

As of Wednesday’s update, just over a quarter of hospital patients in the Mat-Su have COVID-19.  All but one of the intensive care beds in the borough is currently occupied.

The Mat-Su remains the third-least vaccinated borough in Alaska, but its numbers are rising slowly.  Currently, forty-four percent of borough residents twelve and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  Some areas of the Northern Valley are ahead of that average, with more than half of eligible residents in Willow at least partially vaccinated.  What the state labels the “Upper Susitna Area” is around thirty-seven percent.

Northern Valley schools thus far have maintained relatively low case counts, though the Mat-Su Borough School District announced Tuesday evening that Willow Elementary is currently requiring masks in grades three through five.