Vaccine distribution expands next week

Jan. 23—Central Valley Health District will continue second vaccinations for healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and first responders while beginning the task of vaccinating the next priority group, according to information released by the agency Friday.

Healthcare workers, nursing home residents and first responders were part of Phase 1A, people over the age of 75 are considered Phase 1B and first vaccinations for them are scheduled to begin next week.

"We schedule clinics and begin calling people as soon as we have vaccine in the door of our facility," said Robin Iszler, unit administrator for Central Valley Health. "CVHD will be receiving 300 doses of Moderna vaccine the week of Jan. 25 for first doses for those in priority group Phase 1B, specifically those 75 and older."

Central Valley Health District has not scheduled a clinic for Phase 1B recipients but will notify those aged 75 years old and older that have filled out an online interest survey at its website www.CentralValleyHealth.org.

Shannon Klatt, director of health promotions at Central Valley, said about 350 of the 900 responses to the interest survey have been from people 75 years old and older. The district will notify people who filled out the survey to arrange an appointment at the vaccination clinic.

"Appointments at the vaccination clinics will be required to enter the facility," Iszler said. "Locations of the vaccinations may change depending on availability of the facility and those wishing to be vaccinated will be notified of the location when they are called by CVHD staff. Do not show up at a vaccination clinic expecting to be vaccinated without an appointment and those without appointments will be turned away."

Klatt said people with appointments should come prepared.

"People should bring their insurance card and an email address so they can be notified when they are due for the second dose," Klatt said. "They can also bring a family member, like a son or daughter, with them to help with the process and to prepare them for the second dose."

The Moderna vaccine being administered to the Phase 1B recipients requires a second dose 28 days after the first.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated there were 1,854 people age 75 or older in Stutsman County as of 2019, the most current data available. The 300 vaccines available next week for that age group amount to about 18.5% of those in the Phase 1B category

"The public needs to be patient while they wait their turn for vaccine," Iszler said. "North Dakota continues to only receive less than 10,000 doses each week for the entire State."

Stutsman County currently has 24 active cases of COVID-19 although 3,222 cases have been confirmed by testing since the start of the pandemic in March. There have also been 74 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Stutsman County.

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