Fargo Cass Public Health to start vaccinating the elderly, those with underlying diseases



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The agency said it was close to completing vaccine distribution for so-called Phase 1A priority groups, which include healthcare workers, first responders and residents in nursing homes. long duration.

Healthcare providers who distribute COVID-19 vaccines will soon contact their patients to let them know when individuals can make an appointment to receive the vaccine.

FCPH said it encourages residents to monitor communications from their health care providers and to visit provider websites for the most recent information regarding vaccine distribution.

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Residents who do not have a health care provider or whose provider does not cover the COVID-19 vaccine can use the COVID-19 Phase 1B vaccine resident contact form to share their information with the FCPH.

The use of the contact form will make it possible in the future to communicate vaccination opportunities to residents of priority groups in phase 1B as these opportunities become available.

FCPH is a registered supplier for the COVID-19 vaccine and follows the recommendations and guidelines of the North Dakota Department of Health regarding vaccine distribution.

“While we look forward to delivering this important vaccine to some of our most at-risk residents in the coming weeks, we also ask the community to continue to be patient as it will take some time before we can move on. to the next priority groups, ”said Suzanne Schaefer, CFHP Director of Nursing.

“We are working to provide safe and controlled vaccination clinics for the residents of Cass County as their priority group tops the list. Multiple vaccine opportunities will become available over the weeks,” Schaefer added.

As per guidance provided to the FCPH by the North Dakota Department of Health, priority groups for Phase 1B include the following (in order of priority):

  • People aged 75 and over
  • People aged 65 to 74 with two or more high-risk health conditions
  • Staff and people living in other places of assembly (i.e., Corrections, group homes, treatment centers, homeless shelters, etc.)
  • People aged 65 and over with one or more high-risk medical conditions
  • People aged 65 and over with or without high-risk medical conditions
  • People with two or more high-risk health conditions, regardless of their age
  • Childcare staff
  • Workers employed by nursery schools or kindergarten to grade 12: teachers, nutrition services, helpers, bus drivers, directors, administrative staff, guards, etc.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, high-risk medical conditions include:

When asked on Wednesday about why the CDC considers smoking a high-risk medical condition, Cass County officials referred questions to the federal agency on Wednesday.

Essentia Health and Sanford Health recently announced that they will begin vaccinating members of the general public soon and said patients should monitor notifications from their healthcare providers about when vaccines will be available.

Liz Bjur, a public health nurse at Clay County Public Health, said on Wednesday the agency is still working on immunizing priority Phase 1A groups, which include emergency medical service 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 supplies from the state.”

Bjur said skilled nursing facilities in Clay County have been vaccinated as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program, which she says is expected to start immunizing assisted living centers in the county this week.

She said it is not known when Clay County will begin immunizing Phase 1B priority groups, adding that the county has yet to receive advice from the state of Minnesota regarding which groups to include.

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