Manitoba truckers flock to N.D. vaccination site

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This article was published 22/04/2021 (1997 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 100 Manitoba truckers have taken advantage of a deal with North Dakota to get their COVID-19 vaccines at a one-of-a-kind rest stop just south of the border.

North Dakota’s Department of Health said 62 Manitobans were vaccinated on opening day, Wednesday. Another 74 had been vaccinated by Thursday afternoon — with more scheduled to get the shot in the evening.

“So far, its been great. People are relieved and happy to have vaccinations that fit into their schedule,” said Abbi Berg from the state’s immunization program.

“We know it can be difficult to schedule around trucking schedules when they’re on the road, and (it) can be difficult to find a dose at home, so we’re happy to vaccinate them in North Dakota on their way back to Canada.”

The site is located at the North Dakota Department of Transportation rest area near Drayton, about 50 kilometres south of the border. It can vaccinate up to 200 people per day. If demand increases, the health department said it’s prepared to set up more sites in convenient locations.

“We haven’t gotten anywhere close to capacity, but we do expect that as word gets out, it will get a little more popular,” said Berg, adding they’ve started conversations with Saskatchewan officials about introducing a rest-stop vaccination site close to its border.

North Dakota’s health department is prepared to vaccinate 2,000 to 4,000 Manitobans during the campaign, which was announced Monday in a joint news conference with Premier Brian Pallister and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Truckers can register through the North Dakota Department of Health website, or follow the signs on Interstate 29 and drop in for either the Pfizer or Moderna shot at the rest stop. Both first and second doses will be administered at the site.

Interested truckers can pull their vehicles up to the rest stop, fill out paperwork and get a jab in the immunization trailer. They are asked to stay in their trucks for a mandatory observation period of at least 15 minutes, Berg said. If anything goes wrong, truckers can blast their horns and the site is staffed with EMTs and nurses who can help.

“It’s been really positive and we’ve enjoyed the conversation at the rest area so it’s been a really great experience thus far,” Berg said of the atmosphere at the site.

The site is open from noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday for the next six weeks.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers