Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) will be conducting a drive-through vaccination clinic at the Bismarck Event Center on Wednesday, December 23. The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Vaccines will be given to priority groups that are approved and pre-registered to attend the vaccination event and have been contacted by BBPH. These priority groups have been developed from the Department of Health Vaccine Distribution Plan (https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/COVID%20Vaccine%20Page/Prioritization_Scheme_Phase1A.pdf). Individuals who are part of these essential operations will need to bring identification to verify their affiliation.
“We want the community to be aware that we are hosting this COVID-19 drive-through vaccination clinic for healthcare workers,” said BBPH Director Renae Moch. “This event is not intended for the general public. We are vaccinating those working the front lines during this pandemic, the critical employees that need protection to care for those suffering from COVID-19. We look forward to hosting additional drive-through vaccination clinics in the future for the general public, as more vaccines are available.”
Individuals eligible to receive the vaccine will enter Parking Lot D, (the lot south of the Bismarck Event Center, across Bowen Avenue) from Seventh Street. Vaccination will then be conducted inside the Bismarck Event Center.
The vaccine is given in a two-dose series. Individuals getting vaccinated at this event will receive the Moderna vaccine and must get vaccinated again 28 days later. A four-day grace period is possible for receiving the second round of vaccination. Individuals receiving the vaccine are suggested to review the information at https://www.health.nd.gov/immunization-guidance-public prior to vaccination. For more information about the difference between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, visit https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/COVID%20Vaccine%20Page/Moderna_vs_Pfizer_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
It is recommended that individuals with a history of severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, be observed onsite for 30 minutes following vaccination. Individuals without a history of anaphylaxis will be observed onsite for 15 minutes following the vaccination.
“We are optimistic these vaccines will prevent COVID-19 in those that are vaccinated. Pfizer and Moderna have reported 95 percent and 94.5 percent efficacy, respectively,” said Moch. “Prevention measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and frequent handwashing should still continue, even after you receive the vaccine. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and precautions are important, but this is an exciting first step towards ending this pandemic.”
There is no fee associated with the vaccinations. Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health has chosen to forego charging recipients an administration fee for receiving the vaccine. BBPH encourages you to visit with your healthcare provider to determine potential risks you may encounter due to vaccination. If you have recently received a vaccine you may be ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Most individuals receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will have no noticeable side effects. However, some individuals may experience redness and pain at the injection site, fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches lasting a couple of days.
The Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Drug Administration have developed V-SAFE, a smartphone-based text, text-to-web survey and email-to-web survey active surveillance program for early vaccine recipients. V-SAFE conducts health checks on vaccine recipients via text messages and email daily for the first week post-vaccination, and weekly thereafter for six weeks post-vaccination. A telephone follow-up will be conducted with a person reporting a clinically adverse event during any V-SAFE health check. More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2020-09/COVID-03-Shimabukuro.pdf.
For ongoing response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Dakota Department of Health has established a COVID-19 Hotline to help answer your questions. You may call 1-866-207-2880, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, with questions. Please note that individuals seeking specific medical advice should contact their healthcare provider. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, visit https://www.health.nd.gov/covid-19-vaccine-information.
For testing event inquiries, as well as questions about other health programs and issues, please call Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health at 355-1540, or you can connect with us through a variety of online platforms. Information is available at www.bismarcknd.gov, as well as through social media: via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more info about COVID-19, visit the ND Department of Health website, NDResponse.gov, or CDC website.