VALLEY CITY, N.D. (CCHD) – City County Health District urges children ages 12 and older and adults to get vaccinated for COVID-19. “It is the best tool in our tool box to prevent COVID-19,” states City County Health District Administrator, Theresa Will. She goes on to say that City County Health is open from 9 to 4:30 pm for a COVID-19 vaccine Monday through Friday. It is preferred that patients call ahead for an appointment so you don’t have to wait, but walk-ins are welcome.
The delta variant of COVID-19 is exploding across the USA and North Dakota due to low mask wearing and a low immunization rate. Also the new delta variant is twice as infectious as the original virus.
Last year people in the grandparent age group were the most susceptible, but this year the virus changed and our children are the most vulnerable. The following are the facts taken from the state data on August 31, 2021. Three North Dakota children were hospitalized from ages birth through age 14.
There were also 142 new diagnosis of COVID-19 cases in children:
*40 new cases age 0-5 years
*45 new cases age 6-11 years
*18 new cases age 12-14 years
*39 new cases age 15-19 years
Our children aren’t protected or safe just because of their age. The 142 new childhood cases account for 27% of the total cases in all ages reported on August 31.
Governor Doug Burgum, on September 1st, along with physicians from the five largest health care systems across the state held a press conference discussing the new facts related to COVID-19 in North Dakota. The press conference is available for viewing on the website: ( health.nd.gov) then click ‘COVID-19.
The physicians from the largest health systems stated that the COVID-19 cases now are ahead of the beginning of school last year. They worry that an increase, at the rate in which we are going, will result in a higher COVID-19 rate than a year ago, and that our hospitals will be overrun with patients. A year ago, North Dakota was the worst in the world for COVID-19 infections and death rates.
These doctors pointed out that if the hospitals are full with COVID-19 patients they cannot take patients with other health care needs. They pointed out that staffed available beds are now scarce and emphasized the importance of everyone getting vaccinated for COVID-19 if they are age 12 and older.
For more information about COVID-19 and how to get vaccinated, see your health care provider or contact City County Health District at 845-8518.