We received 300 doses to start giving vaccinations to those 65 and up, Dr. David Wilcox, Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota vice president medical officer, said on Tuesday. We ve been making plans for a long time and have been preparing to vaccinate this group, but hadn t been given the vaccine supply, so we re happy to get started.
Patients wait to receive their initial doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer)
According to Wilcox, Sanford Health, along with partner organizations and providers, are working on a process now where patients will be notified via an invitation with a phone number to call and schedule an appointment for their vaccination. Sanford Health officials have also stressed that while the provider has the infrastructure to administer doses, the vaccine supply is still very limited.
As more and more healthcare workers are now vaccinated, the Minnesota Department of Health is allowing providers, such as Sanford, to administer doses to additional segments of the population. This includes those in the 65 and older age bracket.
Beltrami County Public Health is now tracking 90 active cases as the vaccine rollout takes shape regionally. 2:31 pm, Jan. 8, 2021 ×
BEMIDJI About three weeks have passed since the first vaccines were administered in the Bemidji area and slowly, but surely, doses are getting out area residents.
The phase is labeled 1A by the Minnesota Department of Health. Phase 1B will be next with additional frontline essential workers and adults aged 75 and above. Then, 1C will include adults ages 65-74, as well as people ages 16-64 with medical conditions. Other essential workers will be included in 1C, too. The vaccine is coming into the state from several different channels, said Beltrami County Public Health Director Cynthia Borgen. For our Indian Health Service partners, it s coming directly through the federal government. It comes through the state to our health care providers, and also there are small portions going to local public health offices. At some point, as part
Sanford Health doctor reacts to getting COVID-19 vaccine
Medical staff say they are excited to see less covid patients in hospitals
December 15, 2020
FARGO, N.D. As Sanford Health Medical Center continues handing out its first round of the Pfizer vaccine, healthcare workers provide insight on the relief they are feeling.
The vaccine is a beacon of hope as it has become readily available for front line medical workers.
Staff say they are excited about what this vaccine will bring for local hospitals as it could mean having fewer patients admitted who are suffering from COVID-19 complications.
“I think one of the really amazing things about what has happened in the past 24 to 48 hours in if not longer is that there’s much more hope there is the ability to look into our patients’ eyes and hold their hands and say things will become better,” Sanford Health Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Rishi Seth said.