The Pfizer vaccination, the first in a series of two injections, ended in seconds. After weeks of vaccinating frontline workers, Sanford Health Bismarck and Sanford Health Fargo began administering the vaccine in what they call phase 1B on Thursday, January 14. The category includes people aged 75 and over and people with underlying high-risk health conditions.
“I got my chance,” said Bakken, 92. “Did not hurt; she was wonderful. This means that I must be protected and will live to be 100 years old. ”
LPN Bethany Schulz shows vaccination documents to Corrine Bakken, 92, before receiving the first vaccination COVID-19 on Thursday, January 14, at the Sanford Broadway Clinic, Fargo. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
Since the start of the pandemic, Bakken has remained silent at home. In the summer, she tended the garden. Her son, Larry Bakken, does his grocery shopping and they share meals. The night before the vaccination, they ate turkey, mashed potatoes and spaghetti.
The pandemic forced her to retire from her job at West Fargo Public Schools, where she worked for 27 years with children with special needs.
“That was one of the most difficult parts,” said Bakken. “That and isolate me.” She looked at her son, a Sanford employee who has already been vaccinated. “They take care of me. They’ve been my anchor for so long, and after my husband died 12 years ago, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them. “
“I hope this is the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Larry Bakken, who adjusted his lifestyle to take care of his mother without fear of transmitting the coronavirus to her. “We are a family that works together and we help each other”.
Bakken does not plan to change her lifestyle now that she has received her first vaccination, but she hopes her family will be able to be together under a new normal soon.
“We will still be careful and protect ourselves and everyone else using our masks,” said Bakken. “I’ll leave it to the scientists to find out everything, they know better than we do.”
Corrine Bakken shows her CDC record after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination on Thursday, January 14, at the Sanford Broadway Clinic, Fargo. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
Like many others, Bakken and his son wonder whether they are safe from passing the coronavirus to others when they are fully vaccinated.
“Could you harbor a virus maybe in your nose or something and transmit it? I suppose it’s a possibility, but I don’t think we know that yet, ”explained Sanford Fargo’s medical director, Doug Griffin, who said he only felt pain in his arm after the vaccination.
“Based on other viral diseases that we vaccinated against, we don’t think it’s a great form of transmission, but now we are in a pandemic where the virus is much more prevalent than some of our other viruses,” he said.
Erica Jackson, left, and Peggy Gilbery check the patients who received the COVID-19 vaccination on Thursday, January 14, at the Sanford Broadway Clinic, Fargo. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor
Griffin said a total of about 15 people were vaccinated on Thursday. O How quickly Sanford can administer vaccines depends on the offer, which at the moment is limited, he said, adding that the public should not change their lifestyle after receiving them.
“Unfortunately, until we have a large number of people vaccinated, I don’t think it will change much,” said Griffin. “Could you, for example, give one of these people a little more comfort in being visited by a grandson, or something like that? I think the answer is possibly yes. But I don’t think it’s a ticket out of town. ”
Priority groups are determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Dakota Department of Health, according to Sanford Health. More information on eligibility can be found here.
Jean Beilke, 88, and her husband Erwin, 92, after receiving the first vaccine from Pfizer on Thursday, January 14, at the Sanford Health Center. CS Hagen / The Forum
Jean Beilke, 88, and her husband, Erwin, 92, received their first vaccine together. Almost a year after the pandemic began, they spent most of their time at home, with rare visits to church.
“Lots of naps,” said Erwin.
“And letters, puzzles, puzzles,” said Jean. “We stayed at home, we didn’t do anything, but it doesn’t matter, as long as we have both of us.”
At Christmas, they met with ten family members, all busy in the basement.
“I just hope to live long enough to get a second chance.” Erwin joked. “That will be in a few weeks.”
“The only hope we have is that all of this will be over soon. Many people have been harmed by this, ”said Erwin.