Alaska entered its second phase (Phase 1b) of coronavirus vaccine distribution on Wednesday, allowing Alaskans aged 65 years or older to begin making appointments for vaccinations that will become available starting Monday.
Individuals in that age bracket are considered to be part of Tier 1 of Phase 1b, and became eligible to schedule appointments at noon on Wednesday.
But by about 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, no appointments for COVID-19 vaccination remained available.
Tessa Walker Linderman of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services said in a late Wednesday afternoon media briefing that the lack of appointments was not an issue of the DHSS scheduling website being overrun, but the number of people trying to book appointments outnumbered the available vaccine providers at that time.