Health

NDDoH expert: No concerns about vaccinated people ditching masks

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — An epidemiologist with the North Dakota Department of Health says vaccinated people should have no concerns about ditching face masks. Brenton Nesemeier says recent studies show that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping people out of hospitals and from dying. As of Tuesday, 52 percent of people in Cass County are fully vaccinated against the…

West Fargo Schools aim to break mental health stigma

Counseling services are offered free of charge for all students.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — West Fargo Public Schools is helping break the stigma during Mental Health Awareness Month. Staff have started conversations surrounding the topic and discuss the importance of asking for help if a student should need it. The school district also requires all staff get mental health training that covers topics like anxiety, depression and suicide prevention….

LIVE: Healthy Kids Day

Talk about terrific timing. Just as the CDC announced its new, relaxed recommendations for vaccinated Americans and telling us we can drop the masks, the YMCA is welcoming back one and all for its annual Healthy Kids Day this weekend. It’s been more than a year since the metro’s YMCA facilities opened their doors to everyone for the free-to-all-ages event….

Walz to end Minnesota’s mask mandate following CDC announcement

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will sign an order Friday morning ending the state’s mask mandate to follow Centers For Disease Control and Prevention guidance on face coverings. Minnesotans who aren’t fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors. Businesses and cities can still make their own mask mandates. However, masks are still required…

ND Dept. of Health shares difficulties ahead in vaccinating adolescents

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) – The North Dakota Department of Health shares why it’s so important to get 12 to 15 year olds vaccinated for Covid-19 now that the Pfizer vaccine is available to them. Health experts say children often show no symptoms or mild symptoms. They can also get multi system inflammatory syndrome which can lead to neurological disorders. North…

CDC says vaccinated people can largely ditch masks indoors

WASHINGTON – In a move to send the country back toward pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday eased indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to safely stop wearing masks inside in most places. The new guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless…

Pet Connection: Meet Daxton

He's got us on a sugar high.

For a dog as sweet as his breed look no further than Daxton the chocolate lab. He’s high energy, affectionate, always up for a game, and just as goofy as his breed’s reputation would have it. He’s also very well behaved, gets along well with other dogs, kennel trained, and getting over Parvovirus like a champ. Labs are bred to…

Essentia Health offers post COVID-19 rehabilitation program

We're not just guessing at what the patient needs help with, we're letting real data drive how we're deciding to help them."

NORTH DAKOTA & MINNESOTA (KVRR) — Essentia Health launches a COVID-19 patient rehabilitation program for those suffering with long term effects from the virus. “I tell people he’s our blueprint. We know how to get somebody better with COVID from about as bad as you can have it and be as worn down from it as you can be,” Essentia…

Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine approved for children ages 12 to 15

UNITED STATES (KVRR) – The Food and Drug Administration expands use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old. Last month Pfizer said phase three clinical trials found its vaccine was safe and one hundred percent effective in the age group. Preliminary data shows there were no cases among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 given placebos….

Mother & Daughter Share Experience with Colon Cancer

They are hoping to bring awareness to topic in the community.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Strength and determination are two words that best describes the journey Amanda Houston and her mother overcame. “Very up and down emotions,” said Houston. At age 34 Amanda received the news every person regrets hearing. “I had been experiencing some symptoms for a while and went in to receive a colonoscopy and they did find that…