As North Dakota continues its COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, the North Dakota Department of Health is seeking to answer questions residents may have about getting vaccinated.
During a town hall meeting, Friday, Jan. 15, the North Dakota Department of Health said that some of the larger cities in the state will host mass vaccination clinics in the coming weeks as more doses become available.
Dr. Paul Carson, an infectious disease expert with Sanford Health says the vaccinations from Pfizer and Moderna appear to be promising, but only time will tell on how long immunity from the virus will last after receiving both shots.
"(What's)High on a lot of people's minds are questions like, 'how long will the vaccine last, will we need boosters.' The short answer is, we don't know," Carson said. The vaccine has only been studied a few months, hopefully this is a vaccine that has robust immunity and lasts a lifetime.
The state announced a new tool on its website for those wondering who carries the vaccine in their county . The state emphasized that vaccinations are going on as quickly as possible.
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"If the Covid vaccine is not available in your area, which is possible, because doses are so limited in ND, but I want to assure you that when we get to your priority group, we will get to you," Molly Howell, an immunization program manager for NDDoH.
Carson recommends that those who have already had the virus to wait and let those who haven't yet been infected to get vaccinated.
"It might be the charitable thing to do to step to the back of the line and let people who have not had Covid and are in the current groups being vaccinated to let them go first," Carson said.
The state health department says snowbirds who head south can get their first vaccination in North Dakota, and get their second shot at their winter destination. Those already at their winter homes can get their first shot there and get the second shot in North Dakota as well.
