The agency said it was completing the distribution of vaccines known as Phase 1A priority groups, which include healthcare workers, first responders and long-term caregivers.
Healthcare providers distributing COVID-19 vaccines will soon contact their patients with information on when individuals can make an appointment to receive the vaccine.
FCPH said it encourages residents to look at communications from their healthcare providers and to visit providers’ websites for the latest information on vaccine distribution.
Residents who do not have a healthcare provider or whose provider does not cover the COVID-19 vaccine can use the COVID-19 vaccine phase 1B contact form for residents to share their information with FCPH.
Using the contact form, future vaccination opportunities can be communicated to residents in Phase 1B priority groups as these opportunities become available.
FCPH is a registered provider of the COVID-19 vaccine and follows the North Dakota Department of Health’s recommendations and guidance regarding the distribution of the vaccine.
“While we look forward to providing this important vaccine to some of our most at-risk residents in the coming weeks, we also ask for continued patience from the community, as it will take a while before we can move on to the next priority groups. moves., “says Suzanne Schaefer, director of nursing at FCPH.
“We are working to provide safe and controlled vaccination clinics for Cass County residents as their priority group comes to the top of the list. Several vaccination opportunities will become available as the weeks progress,” Schaefer added.
According to the guidelines provided by the North Dakota Department of Health to FCPH, the Phase 1B priority groups include the following (in order of priority):
- Persons aged 75 and over
- Persons aged 65 – 74 years with two or more high-risk medical conditions
- Staff and persons living in other congregations (ie corrections, group homes, treatment centers, shelters for the homeless, etc.)
- Persons aged 65 and over with one or more high-risk medical conditions
- Persons aged 65 and over with or without high risk medical conditions
- Persons with two or more high-risk medical conditions regardless of age
- Child care workers
- Workers working in the 12th grade kindergarten or kindergarten: teachers, nutrition services, assistants, bus drivers, principals, administrative staff, guardians, etc.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, high-risk medical conditions include:
Asked Wednesday why the CDC cites smoking as a high-risk medical condition, Cass County officials on Wednesday referred questions to the federal agency.
Essentia Health and Sanford Health recently announced that they will be vaccinating members of the general public soon and said patients should pay attention to notifications from their healthcare providers about when vaccines are available.
Liz Bjur, public health nurse at Clay County Public Health, said Wednesday the agency is still working to vaccinate Phase 1A priority groups, which include EMS workers and other first responders.
“We vaccinated 500 (people) last week,” Bjur said, adding: “We are ready to vaccinate and we have the capacity to vaccinate, but we are waiting for more stock from the state.”
Bjur said skilled nursing homes in Clay County have been vaccinated through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program, which she says will help vaccinate care facilities in the province this week.
She said it is not known when Clay County will begin vaccinating Phase 1B priority groups. The province has yet to receive guidance from the state of Minnesota regarding the groups to be included.