Borough first responders to receive COVID-19 vaccine

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough will head into 2021 with a plan to vaccinate first responders and more doses of COVID-19 vaccines on the way. Mat-Su Borough Emergency Medical Services Operations Chief Tracey Loscar presented to the Assembly at a meeting on Dec. 15 concerning the vaccines that had just arrived.

“They will be coming here as far as the borough and [the Department of Emergency Services], we are working in conjunction with the [Emergency Operations Center and the DHSS. As far as distribution goes, internally Mat-Su BoroughEMS is going to support the EOC and make sure that the first responders in the Valley are all offered the opportunity for vaccination. This includes police fire law enforcement and anyone else we get told are in the particular phases,” said Loscar.

Loscar said that the Mat-Su Borough had requested 630 doses for EMS employees during phase 1. Alaska has already received over 35,000 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, and another 17,000 doses of vaccine from Moderna were also requested. Loscar said that while the Pfizer vaccines require two doses 21 days apart, the Moderna vaccine requires two doses 28 days apart.

“We’re working now to get all of our line staff trained to be able to administer so that once we get past this phase and move into public distribution, the EOC will have plenty of people to draw from for additional support and to support the hospital as well,” said Loscar.

At the beginning of the meeting, Assemblywoman Tam Boeve was voted in as Deputy Mayor by a 5-2 vote with Assemblymen George McKee and Jesse Sumner voting in opposition. The debate on the strong mayor and first class borough ordinances has been moved to the Assembly meeting on February 2.

Also before the Assembly on December 15 was a continued ordinance to put the Mat-Su Borough code in compliance with state code regarding euthanasia of animals.

“This change is not only unnecessary but also contrary to the best interest of the community and animal care operations in the borough,” said Mike Straub. “The rationale for this change states that it is to bring borough code into alignment with state law, however there is no reference to exactly which state law this is anywhere in the ordinance.”

After discussion at previous Assembly meetings including Mat-Su Borough animal shelter employees on either side of the issue, Assemblywoman Stephanie Nowers’ motion to postpone indefinitely was passed without opposition.

“It seems like there’s a legitimate reason to want to be able to euthanize animals in extreme situations and there’s a base agreement on that but there’s concerns that have been brought forward by the veterinary community and this provides an opportunity for administration to go back and get together with folks and try to work on some wording or a process that is acceptable,” said Nowers.