Sanford begins vaccination phase for the elderly, those at high risk

The Pfizer vaccination, the first in a series of two injections, was completed in seconds. After weeks of vaccinating frontline workers, Sanford Health Bismarck and Sanford Health Fargo began administering the vaccine in what they call Phase 1B on Thursday, January 14. The category includes people aged 75 and over and people with underlying high-risk health conditions.

“I had my chance,” said Bakken, 92. “It didn’t hurt; she did wonderful. This means that I should be protected and that I will live to be 100 years old. ”

Since the start of the pandemic, Bakken has been silent at home. In summer, she took care of her garden. His son, Larry Bakken, does his shopping and they share meals together. The night before his vaccination, they had turkey, mashed potatoes and spaghetti squash.

The pandemic forced her to withdraw from her job at West Fargo Public Schools, where she worked for 27 years with children with special needs.

“It was one of the hardest parts,” Bakken said. “That and isolate myself.” She looked at her son, a Sanford employee who was previously vaccinated. “They take care of me. They’ve been my anchor for so long, and after my husband died 12 years ago, I’m afraid I won’t be here today without them.

“I hope it’s the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Larry Bakken, who has adjusted his lifestyle to take care of his mother without fear of passing the coronavirus to her. “We are a family that works together and we help each other.”

Bakken has no plans to change her lifestyle now that she has received the first vaccination, but she hopes her family can soon be together under a new normal.

“We will remain cautious and protect ourselves and everyone by wearing our masks,” Bakken said. “I’ll leave it to the scientists to figure everything out, they know better than we do.”

Like many others, Bakken and his son wonder if they will be safe from transmitting the coronavirus to others when they are fully vaccinated.

“Could you take a virus maybe in your nose or something and pass it on?” Guess that’s a possibility, but I don’t think we know it yet, ”explained Sanford Fargo chief medical officer Doug Griffin, who said he only felt pain in his arm. after his vaccination.

“Based on other viral diseases that we have been vaccinated against, we don’t think this is a major means of transmission, but now we are in a pandemic where the virus is much more widespread than some of our other viruses.” , he told me.

Griffin said a total of around 15 people were to be vaccinated on Thursday. the The speed at which Sanford can deliver the vaccines depends on the supply, which at the moment is limited, he said, adding that the public should not change their lifestyle after receiving it.

“Unfortunately, until we get a lot of people vaccinated, I don’t think that will change much,” Griffin said. “Could it give, for example, one of these people a little more comfort in having a grandchild visiting, or something like that?” I think the answer may be yes. I don’t think it’s a ticket out of town, however.

Priority groups are determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Dakota Department of Health, according to Sanford Health. More information on eligibility can be found here.

Jean Beilke, 88, and her husband, Erwin, 92, received their first vaccine vaccine together. Nearly a year after the start of the pandemic, they have spent most of their time at home, with rare trips to church.

“Lots of naps,” Erwin said.

“And cards, puzzles, puzzles,” says Jean. “We stayed at home, we didn’t do anything, but it doesn’t matter as long as we are both.

For Christmas, they reunited with ten family members, all spaced in the basement.

“I just hope I live long enough to get the second shot.” Erwin joked. “It will be in a few weeks.”

“The only hope we have is that this will all be over soon. A lot of people have been hurt by this, ”Erwin said.