PIERRE — The South Dakota Department of health announced it activating the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program Thursday.
The FRPP is a collaboration to increase COVID-19 vaccinations access between the federal government, states and 21 national pharmacies and independent networks. Four pharmacies participating in South Dakota are Cardinal Health, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Lewis Drug and Walmart, with activation scheduled for 13 sites on the eastern side of the state.
The pharmacies will follow the DOH’s phased vaccination schedule, with 2,600 doses per week coming from the federal government. These doses will be in addition to the roughly 13,500 doses already supplied each week.
The DOH also announced the age group for Group 1D vaccination will be lowered to those 70 years and older on Feb. 15. and will decrease by five years as vaccine supply becomes more readily available.
The number of South Dakotans to receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is approaching 90,000. Thus far, 89,050 people — 13% of the state’s population — have received one dose, while 40,491 people or 5.9% of the state’s population have been completely vaccinated.
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Active COVID-19 cases in South Dakota plummeted by nearly 100, the state reported Wednesday, Feb. 10. The DOH reported 2,151 active cases across the state, a single-day decrease of 93. The decline came despite 175 new cases reported Wednesday, as 13.8% of 1,264 new tests returned positive. Six new deaths were reported to bring the pandemic total to 1,815 people.
Hospitalizations remained at 109 for the second consecutive day. Statewide, 43.7% of hospital beds are available and 3.9% are occupied by COVID-19 patients. There are 20 people in the intensive care unit — 10 at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls — and 12 on ventilators.
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