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VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The following is a news release by the City County Health District Office in Valley City.

“Just before Christmas the first COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Valley City. Barnes County, like all counties in North Dakota will be following the state plan for the distribution of the vaccine.
Phase 1A identifies the first people to receive the vaccine, which includes health care workers and long-term care residents.

By the week of January 25th the expectation is to be able to move to Phase 1B (in order of priority) which includes people age 75 and older, people age 65-74 with high risk medical conditions, child care workers and workers employed by preschools or kindergarten through grade 12 (e.g. teachers, aides, bus drivers, principals, administrative staff, custodians, nutritional services, etc.).

The City County Health District (CCHD) will inform the public as to when various groups will be able to access vaccine, and provide instructions for registration, using the CCHD website, the Times Record newspaper, NewsDakota.com, KOVC radio, and Facebook. The state has established the priority list.

Sheyenne Care Center, is part of Phase 1A which is presently being completed. They received their own vaccine for both employees and residents. CHI Mercy Health also received their own vaccine for distribution to employees. Thrifty White will be giving vaccine to Maryvale and Bridgeview. CCHD is presently completing vaccinations for CCHD employees, Legacy Place, Emergency Responders and will be vaccinating Open Door staff and residents the weeks of January 4th and 11th.

“Our staff at CCHD is trained and ready to provide COVID-19 vaccinations as fast as we are able to obtain the vaccine,” states CCHD director Theresa Will. “We’ve given 195 doses to date. Our county continues to receive vaccine from the North Dakota Department of Health in quantities of less than 100 per week and are administered as quickly as possible each week,” Will notes.

“We are fortunate that these two vaccines were developed so quickly and that they are safe and 95% effective,” declares Dr. James Buhr, Barnes County Medical Director. “I feel privileged to have been part of the Pfizer study myself. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated for COVID-19,” Buhr emphasizes.”

Feature Photo: Kerry Due, RN, Immunization Coordinator at CCHD is holding a package of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine which is presently being given to Phase 1A individuals in Barnes County. Due anticipates that CCHD will be able to move to vaccinating individuals in the next priority category which includes people 75 years of age and older (Phase 1B) by the week of January 25th.