ND prepares vaccine rollout for general population

North Dakota health officials are preparing to enter the next phase of the vaccine rollout…phase two.  On Friday the state announced that vaccinations for the coronavirus will be available to the general public beginning March 29.  The agency says some regions of the state could move into the Phase 2 even sooner.

State Immunization Program Manager Molly Howell says the move will help reduce confusion over who is eligible for a shot.  Howell says over half of all residents have an underlying health condition.  “A lot of people aren’t going to walk into a clinic and say I am obese can I get vaccinated today?  So this allows us to better communicate that everyone over 18 should get a COVID vaccine.”

Howell says North Dakota continues to be among the leaders in percentage of doses administered.

At last count the state has administered 340,072 doses.  In Grand Forks County the tally exceeds 30,560.  Roughly 35% of North Dakota’s population has received at least one shot.