Allison

Allison

Want to know more about Allison? Get their official bio, social pages and articles!Full Bio

 

First District Health Unit Asks For Patience As Phase 1A Priority Happens

First District Offers Guidance to People Seeking COVID Vaccination

A coalition of medical providers in the First District Health Unit service area is working diligently to assure that the incoming COVID-19 vaccine is made available to people as quickly, efficiently and equitably as possible.  Because the initial supply of vaccine will not be sufficient for the entire population, distribution of the vaccine is guided by the priorities set by the State’s Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination Ethics. The prioritized phases can be found at www.fdhu.org

Private health care facilities and local public health are contacting prioritized groups to be vaccinated at this time. These vaccinations are given by appointment. If you belong to one of the identified priority groups, you may also be notified or contacted through your employer, agency, professional association or other group.

Many providers will communicate directly with their eligible patients to arrange vaccination. Medical facilities may email or phone patients who are eligible for the vaccine, or make announcements in local media. Because the vaccine supply is not predictable at this point, you may not be contacted until your provider has the vaccine in hand.

The vaccinations priorities established by the Ethics Committee are listed below. People are asked to practice patience while waiting for the vaccine to become available to them. Details of the priority tiers within the phases can be found at www.fdhu.org:

Phase 1A:         Health Care Workers and Long-Term Care Residents

Phase 1B:          Older individuals, people with underlying health conditions, other congregate settings, childcare workers, and employees of preschools and kindergarten through 12th grade

Phase 1C:          Essential workers and people of any age at increased risk for COVID-19

Phase 1A priority groups are presently eligible for vaccination by appointment. At this time, there is no mechanism for people in other phases to preregister or join a waiting list for vaccinations by First District Health Unit or Trinity Health. The public is urged to watch the local news, social media and the First District website for announcements regarding who is eligible for vaccination.

Vaccine Available for Phase 1A Priority Groups

First District Health Unit is now offering COVID-19 vaccination by appointment to all groups identified in all 5 tiers of Phase 1A of the State of North Dakota’s Phases for COVID-19 Vaccine. This includes individuals in Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Renville, Sheridan and Ward Counties who fall into the following priority groups:

•First responders (ambulance, fire, and law enforcement)

•Incident command staff

•Jail and prison health care staff

•Mortuary service providers

•School nurses

•Dentists, dental assistants and hygienists

•Social workers

•Case managers

  • Healthcare workers who are not affiliated with another vaccinating agency:
    • COVID-19 vaccinators
    • COVID-19 test specimen collectors
    • Staff of urgent care centers with direct patient contact
    • Acute care clinic staff with direct patient care
    • Home health staff/hospice
    • Medical laboratory staff
    • Patient transport(i.e., dialysis, long term care to hospital)
    • Oral surgeons
    • Other therapists (physical, occupational, speech)
    • Free standing dialysis is center staff with direct patient care
    • Free standing inpatient rehabilitation
    • Surveyors/inspectors of healthcare facilities
    • Non-acute care clinics or surgery center staff with direct patient contact
    • Optometrists
    • Psychologists/Psychiatrists
    • Chaplains
    • Other public health workers
    • Chiropractors
    • Naturopaths
    • Mental health workers

People in these priority groups can call their local First District Health Unit office to make an appointment for vaccination. If your call is not answered, please leave a message and your call will be returned. Any eligible person can be vaccinated at any location. Locations are: 

Bottineau        (701) 228-3101                      Bowbells           (701) 377-2316

Garrison          (701) 463-2641                      Kenmare           (701) 385-4328

Minot              (701) 852-1376                      Mohall           (701) 756-6383

Towner           (701) 537-5732                      Washburn           (701) 462-3330

Those who are not in the Phase 1A priority groups listed above can visit the First District Health Unit website to find information on priority groups in upcoming phases. First District is working closely with local health care providers to ensure that vaccines are given as quickly and efficiently as possible.


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content