BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota health officials said Friday that vaccinations for the coronavirus will be available to the general public beginning March 29.
The agency said some regions of the state could move into the Phase 2 vaccination phase even sooner.
The state developed a series of priority phases with the help of a vaccine ethics committee. Health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, and older adults were the first to be vaccinated.
Gov. Doug Burgum said in a statement that people who have not received a vaccine are encouraged to do so. Burgum received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine last week.
The governor has described vaccination as part of the plan to return to normal life.
The health department said as of Friday, almost 195,000 people in North Dakota had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Health officials reported 119 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday. One death was reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,460 since the pandemic began.
