North Dakota is featured prominently on a new podcast from The New York Times surrounding the coronavirus vaccine and its rollout.
The podcast, called "The Daily," features snippets of Monday's rollout of the coronavirus vaccine across the country, including a 10-minute segment at Sanford Health in Fargo about what the vaccine means in the COVID-19 fight.
"The Daily" is a podcast produced by The New York Times Monday through Friday and is hosted by Michael Barbaro.
You can listen to Tuesday's podcast below.
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Health care workers in Bismarck and Fargo were among the first in North Dakota to receive the vaccine on Monday.
Sanford received its first shipment of vaccines on Monday morning with 3,400 doses for the Fargo region with more deliveries of vaccine expected weekly.
Exciting day in North Dakota as the first doses of the COVID vaccine arrive in-state at Sanford Health. First priority is health care and long term care workers.
— ND Department of Health (@NDDOH) December 14, 2020
Find more information at https://t.co/Nf665Lozis pic.twitter.com/lzQpwwqUxz
Dr. Avish Nagpal, Sanford's chief infectious disease specialist in Fargo, was the first to receive an initial dose of the vaccine on Monday.
The day was seen as a historic first step for health care workers in the pandemic.
“This is a pivotal moment in the history of medicine that will change the course of the pandemic,” said Dr. Doug Griffin, vice president medical officer for Sanford Health Fargo.
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Sanford says it will begin distributing the vaccine this week to front-line providers working in rural locations across the state including Sanford Mayville Medical Center and Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center.
Dr. Mubashir Badar (far left) said he has waited for this moment a long time. The first four Bismarck health care workers have received their initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/YuVAdBdDSj
— Jeremy Turley (@jeremyjturley) December 14, 2020
Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks will be receiving its shipment of vaccine on Wednesday , according to a news release sent Monday afternoon. It will receive 450 doses of the vaccine in its first allotment.
While health care workers and long-term care residents will be among the first to get the vaccine in the state, discussions are already being had for who will receive the vaccination next.
North Dakota's COVID-19 Vaccine Ethics Advisory Committee voted unanimously on Monday to recommend vaccination of older North Dakotans and residents with underlying conditions ahead of the state's essential workers.
Also on Monday the first COVID-19 vaccine shipments arrived in Minnesota at four sites across the state.
Minnesota is expected to receive a total of 46,800 units of vaccine across the statewide regional vaccine distribution hubs this week.
