The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is partnering with Taxi 9000 to provide free transportation to Bismarck and Mandan COVID-19 vaccination sites.
“To eliminate a potential barrier to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, the NDDoH is piloting a program with Taxi 9000 to offer free rides to receive COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Krissie Guerard, Health Equity Director for the NDDOH. “This is one more way to increase uptake in COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals that do not have access to other forms of transportation.”
Any Bismarck or Mandan individual who does not have a means of transportation to access a COVID-19 vaccination site is eligible to utilize Taxi 9000. The service is available now through June 30, 2021. To schedule a ride to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, an individual can call Taxi 9000 at 701-223-9000 between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., seven days a week.
“As a business, we want to do our part to protect our patrons,” said Gary Schumacher, proprietor of Taxi 9000. “We are already in the business of transporting our community to and from medical appointments; this is another avenue to help. As a community, we are all in this together to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Individuals will need to schedule their own vaccination appointment, as the service with Taxi 9000 is for transportation only. Those needing assistance scheduling a vaccination can call the NDDoH COVID-19 hotline at 866-207-2880 (press 2) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours may vary on holidays.
Vaccine availability can be found at www.vaccines.gov. People can text their ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX) and 822862 (VACUNA) to find three locations nearby that have vaccines available.
Vaccines are available through area health care providers, local public health, pharmacies and NDDoH pop-up clinics, etc. Visit www.health.nd.gov/together for more information regarding the vaccine and to find vaccine provider information.
For more information, contact Krissie Guerard at 701.328.4538 or kguerard@nd.gov.