Bismarck  (NDDoH)   The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) held a news briefing on Friday Mar. 19, 2021 to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota, with NDDoH Immunization Program Manager Molly Howell being the main speaker.

Guest speakers included Kirby Kruger, NDDoH Disease Control & Forensic Pathology Section Chief, and Dr. Jeff Hostetter, M.D., Program Director for the UND Center for Family Medicine.

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) announced Friday that the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout would reach Phase 2 on Monday, March 29, opening access to the vaccine to the general public. Providers in certain areas may reach Phase 2 prior to March 29.

As of Friday, March 19, 194,903 (27%) North Dakotans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 115,524 (16%) being fully vaccinated.

Molly Howell says, “As the state prepares to make the vaccine available to the general public, it’s important for people included in Phases 1A, 1B or 1C to be vaccinated now, , as they are at highest risk for severe COVID-19 or being exposed to COVID-19.  “Anyone in Phases 1A or 1B who has not received their vaccine yet is encouraged to call our COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-207-2880 and select option 2 for assistance if they’re having trouble finding vaccine.”

The Pfizer vaccine only can be given to those 16-17 years old.

She suggests that adolescents that need other vaccines for back to school, that before  school starts, and getting other vaccines, to get the COVID-19 vaccine soon, because it can not be given while other types of vaccines are being received within a time period of receiving  the COVID-19  inoculation.

The state will receive addition vaccine doses next week, over 10,000 doses of Pfizer and 7,500 doses of Moderna, plus more Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

More pharmacies will receive vaccine doses next week, including Medicine Shoppe Thrifty White and CVS.

Dr. Jeff Hostetter, M.D., Program Director for the UND Center for Family Medicine, said, getting COVID-19 vaccine protects yourself and others around you.  He said the number of residents in North Dakota nursing homes has significantly decline the past few months stemming from COVID related deaths.

He said those who have had COVID-19 still just be vaccinated. He said those with COVID-19 have seen a reduction in symptoms.

He added there’s a better chance of not getting the COVID-19 variants with getting any of the vaccines.

Kirby Kruger, NDDoH Disease Control & Forensic Pathology Section Chief, covered the variants.

He said they include the recently discovered in North Dakota, the  California variant, along with the U.K., South Africa, and Brazil Variants, in addition to the first detected COVID-19.

He said variants are detectable with blood tests with current testing procedures.

Also under study is the transmissibility and how sick a person may get from contracting the variant.

He said the vaccines currently available in North Dakota are effective against all of the coronavirus strains currently detected in the state.

He encourages everybody to continue to mask-up observe social distancing, frequent handwashing with soap and water, and sanitizing, stay at home when sick.

He added a study showed that with counties with mask mandates, case rates and death rates were reduced.

He added that those fully vaccinated can be in contact with others fully vaccinate, without taking those precautions.  However, being in public, those fully vaccinated still need to take those precautions against the spread from those who are not.

Citizens can determine their vaccine eligibility in their area by checking the NDDoH COVID-19 Vaccine Locator at health.nd.gov/covidvaccinelocator.

Gov. Doug Burgum adds,  “North Dakota continues to be a national leader in vaccine administration, thanks to the incredible efforts of our health care providers, public health staff, Team ND members and citizens who have received the vaccine. Those who haven’t been vaccinated are encouraged to take advantage of this expanded access to protect themselves and those around them, build community immunity, keep our schools and businesses open and help end the pandemic.”