The Iditarod Board of Directors announced this week that it made a very “tough decision” to ban from the 2022 race all mushers and race workers who have declined to get a COVID shot.

It’s unclear how the new mandate will impact overall race participation. Given that only 55 mushers have even bothered to sign up for the 2022 race, it is already set to be one of the smallest fields in more than 20 years. One musher has already withdrawn, although the reason is not clear.

More than half of all mushers signed up for the 2022 race are from some of the most unvaccinated areas of Alaska – the Mat-Su Valley and Fairbanks. Fifteen mushers are from the Mat-Su where nearly 60% of area residents are not deemed fully vaccinated. Another 14 mushers hail from the Fairbanks area where 50% of residents are not fully vaxed.

The new mandate, however, applies to the entire Iditarod community – mushers, staff, contractors, volunteers, pilots, veterinarians, etc.

“This decision was made in concert with feedback from rural Alaska and is reflective of the Iditarod’s broad community health consciousness,” the Iditarod stated in announcing the mandate.

The following list shows how many mushers signed up to race in the past 22 Iditarod races. This does not reflect the total number who started or finished, but those who initially signed, some of whom later scratched or withdrew.

• 2022 – 55 mushers
• 2021 – 66 mushers
• 2020 – 62 mushers
• 2019 – 55 mushers
• 2018 – 77 mushers
• 2017 – 84 mushers
• 2016 – 90 mushers
• 2015 – 81 mushers
• 2014 – 74 mushers
• 2013 – 71 mushers
• 2012 – 74 mushers
• 2011 – 65 mushers
• 2010 – 79 mushers
• 2009 – 79 mushers
• 2008 – 114 mushers
• 2007 – 107 mushers
• 2006 – 105 mushers
• 2005 – 102 mushers
• 2004 – 88 mushers
• 2003 – 64 mushers
• 2002 – 64 mushers
• 2001 – 68 mushers

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