The South Dakota Department of Health yesterday released two tools designed to better inform South Dakotans on the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration process. These tools are in addition to the already available dashboard, which is updated daily.

The first tool is a county-by-county map linking residents to the health care system(s) charged in overseeing vaccine distribution and administration in their area, in collaboration with the Department of Health. The second provides residents an estimated timeline of vaccine availability, depending on which priority group (A-E) they belong to in accordance to Phase 1 of South Dakota’s vaccination plan. The latter is also available in Spanish. Detailed information on prioritized populations can be found here: English/Spanish.

Bankers are in priority group Phase 1E, and SDBA President Karlton Adam suggests that banks begin developing a list of whom they wish to have the vaccine first.

"Many of our member banks have multiple locations across South Dakota in large communities and small towns as well. As a result of the size of the community, the number of doses available by community and number of individuals that are within priority group, Phase 1A through 1E will vary," Adam said. "In each of your bank locations, you may want to develop a list of whom you wish to have the vaccine first, in the likely event there are not enough vaccines to inoculate all bankers at the same time."

For additional information and the latest resources, visit COVID.SD.GOV.