Ahead of the arrival of the first COVID-19 vaccines in the state, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink and other top state health officials will brief the Kenai City Council during its Dec. 9 work session.

During a media briefing on Monday, Zink and other officials said the first COVID-19 vaccines could arrive in Alaska as early as next week. Currently, Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, which have efficacy rates of more than 90%, are awaiting Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA. Vaccines granted EUAs cannot be mandated by government entities or by businesses.

Among the first to receive the vaccine will be frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, per recommendations from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

State health officials met with the Soldotna City Council during a work session on Nov. 19 to talk about the role local governments can play in helping mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Members of the public interested in watching the work session can do so on the City of Kenai’s public meetings YouTube channel or via Zoom. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.