Legislators ask North Dakota Health Department to end vaccination phone calls to residents

Two legislators are asking North Dakota’s Health Department to end phone calls to residents that inform them of how and where to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The state health officer in a response said immunization reminders are routine, callers are state-employed and trained on federal privacy law, and people can opt out of state-issued reminders.

Sens. Jessica Bell, R-Beulah, and Nicole Poolman, R-Bismarck, sent a letter to State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi on Tuesday about the calls, listing concerns with patient privacy and the role of state government in “personal health choices.”

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