GF health officials still doling out vaccine

Grand Forks Health officials say the latest vaccination rate for COVID-19 among those 12 and older is still under 50% – but they have seen an increase in arms getting jabbed in the past week.  Health Director Debbie Swanson says part of the uptick is being fueled by those seeking booster shots.

Swanson says they’ve also been told the vaccination rate is high on the Grand Forks Air Force Base.  “Which likely is boosting the age group 19-19.  Those doses  unfortunately don’t get reported to out North Dakota immunization system so it’s likely that age group is more vaccinated that what shows up in our charts.”

The Department of Defense reports those rates directly to the C-D-C.

Swanson says they are working to assist fans planning to travel to Nashville for the Hall of Fame hockey game between UND and Penn State later this month.  “We have met with officials at the REA and UND are working on some plans for those who are not vaccinated will have a testing opportunity before they travel.”

Grand Forks County currently has 232 active cases of COVID-19 (Tuesday).