Bismarck  (CSi)  The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) held a press briefing at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 providing an update on the COVID-19 vaccine, held at the NDDoH Emergency Preparedness Building in Bismarck.

 

Speakers included:   Molly Howell, Immunization Director; Dr. Paul Carson, Director of the NDSU Center for Research Immunization and Education; Dr. Christie Massen, Chief Laboratory Officer.

It was pointed out that COVID-19 positive cases in North Dakota have declined this past week, however the number of hospitalizations have increased, impacting health care professionals, facilities, and families.

With the approaching Christmas holiday, it’s recommended to celebrate virtually, and to go on line to do shopping, along with continuing with safe guidelines.

Dr. Paul Carson, Director of the NDSU Center for Research Immunization and Education on the phone from Fargo, said two vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, are likely to be approved for emergency distribution, soon, with they being 95 percent affective against the virus, showing prevention of the most severe cases of COVID-19.  He said both showed no significant health complications from receiving the vaccine.

He said the approval from the FDA is under a federal emergency, which allows a fast track approval.   He added the vaccines are being reviewed externally, for safety and effectiveness for release to the public.

Side effects are termed ‘mild’ and includes a fever, headache, fatigue, and a sore arm at the injection site, generally lasting one to two days, stemming from the body ramping up immunity to the virus.  Each vaccine requires two doses about three to four weeks apart.

The goal is to have 70 percent of the population vaccinated, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

 

Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Director said, the vaccine will be available in North Dakota about mid December, and will be administered, following health workers education.  The vaccines will be limited at first, to 6800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and then 13,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.  The first people getting the vaccines, will be healthcare workers, longterm care workers, police, teachers, child care providers, those 65 years old and over, and others at high risk, including health risks they have currently have such as diabetes.  Thrifty White Drug is among the pharmacy to handle the distribution.

Permanent records of each person’s dose will be kept in State Health Department records.

She said the vaccines require either being frozen or refrigeration, and will be stable for about seven days before needing to be disposed of.

She added that individuals also need to have flu shots.

 

She also explained the CDC new guidelines for a shortened period of quarantining for those exposed to the virus, under certain criteria for the person exposed. It involves being tested or retested.

More information is available at the State Health Department web site.

Dr. Christie Massen, Chief Laboratory Officer, said around one million lab tests have been performed at the State Health Department lab, since the start of the pandemic.  She added that most results are available within 24 to 48 hours, allowing positive tested individuals to quarantine sooner.

Rapid Testing is also available with results within 15 minutes, and those asymptomatic testing negative are asked to be retested, by the traditional tests.