Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) is now serving individuals in Phase 1C on the ND Department of Health’s Priority Groups list.
Phase 1C encompasses an estimated 165,000 people across North Dakota. The phases tiers include the following priority groups, listed by priority:
- National Guard, not previously covered
- Grocery workers
- Public safety answering points (911)
- COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing workers
- Health care/public health workers not in Phase 1A
- Public transit – including bus, taxi and rideshare – workers
- People age 16-64 with 1 underlying condition
- Blood bank workers not previously vaccinated
- IT workers unable to work from home
- All other essential workers per Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) unable to work from home.
Individuals who qualify under this phase and are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine must go to https://www.ndvax.org to sign up for a vaccine clinic. After going to the webpage, click on the ‘Find a Clinic’ button, find a Bismarck event and click on the ‘Sign Up for a COVID-19 Vaccination’ button. This will show available appointment times for the clinic. Click on any available appointment and then click on the ‘Save and Continue’ button at the bottom of the screen. You will then need to complete the demographic information on the subsequent screen to complete your appointment.
“We’ve seen an increase in vaccine supplies at Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, allowing us to vaccinate more people,” said BBPH Director Renae Moch. “The increase in vaccine supply to us, and other healthcare providers in this community allowed us to move through the priority groups more quickly than originally anticipated.”
If you are unable to appointment registration, please contact BBPH at 355-1540 and select Option 1 to speak to a representative who will assist you in scheduling an appointment. You must have an appointment to receive vaccine at a BBPH event. More information is available at https://bismarcknd.gov/2015/COVID-Vaccine-Info. Vaccine events are subject to change due to a range of factors, including, but not limited to, weather and vaccine availability.
Underlying health conditions are defined as conditions that create an increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Down Syndrome
- Health Conditions (Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Disease or Cardiomyopathies)
- Immunocompromised State (Weakened Immune System) from Solid Organ Transplant
- Obesity (Body Mass Index of 30 kg/m2 or Higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Along with Phase 1C, COVID-19 vaccination is now available for anyone in Phase 1A (healthcare workers, first responders, long-term care residents and staff), as well as all of Phase 1B (Adults 75 and older, adults aged 65-74 with 2+ underlying conditions, other congregate setting residents and staff, adults aged 65-74 with 1 underlying condition, adults aged 65 and older with no underlying health conditions, ages 16-64 or 18-64 with 2+ underlying health conditions, childcare workers, and preschool and K-12 school workers.
Depending on the vaccine used during the clinic, individuals may need to return for a second round of vaccine 21 days (for the Pfizer vaccine) or 28 days (for the Moderna vaccine) later. Individuals aged 16 or 17 must have parental consent and only have access to the Pfizer vaccine. Individuals receiving vaccination will be able to make their second-dose appointments while at the vaccine clinic. If the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is used at vaccine clinics, this vaccine requires just one dose.
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. with questions. Please note that individuals seeking specific medical advice should contact their healthcare provider.
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.