COVID-19 vaccine available to people over 70 in Montana | Status

Helena, Mon. (AP) — Montana is moving into the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine deployment, Governor Greg Gianforte said Tuesday, but supply is still limited and all counties are new. Not all qualified people are immediately offered injections.

People over the age of 70 can be vaccinated in the second stage. 16-69 years with high-risk medical conditions. Native Americans and other people over the age of 16 may be at increased risk of COVID-19 complications.

In a statement, Jean Forte said, “Focusing on the most vulnerable Montana in the distribution of vaccines can save lives. Thanks to the efforts of local health jurisdictions and healthcare professionals, it is the most vulnerable in Montana. People now have access to safe and effective COVIDs. 19 vaccines. “

Montana’s vaccine supply still depends on federal supply and quotas, officials said. Most county health departments require people to book vaccines online and monitor websites for information on future availability.

To Lewis and Clark CountyThe 900 drive-through vaccine reservations on Tuesday and Wednesday were immediately booked by residents over the age of 70 last week.

Cascade County We plan to open an online portal on Thursday to schedule drive-through reservations for people over 70, but not for people aged 16-69 who have underlying health problems. The county has 1,500 doses to be distributed next week.

“There will be no exception to this age rule due to limited vaccine supply,” the Cascade County Health Department said in a statement Monday. “If you can’t make a reservation when the portal opens on Thursday, don’t go to a (community health) agency or call your doctor to see if you can enter.”

In Yellowstone County, Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Healthcare patients were asked to schedule appointments online through their patient accounts.Others can register online Riverstone Health..

Flathead County Health Department Asks people to call their name, date of birth, and phone number to leave a message, and states that residents will make reservations based on the amount of vaccine shipped weekly.

Butte-Silver Bow Health We also make reservations by voice mail to make vaccines available on Wednesdays over 80 years old, over 75 years old on January 27th, and over 70 years old on February 3rd.

Missoula and Gallatin counties have not yet entered the second phase of vaccine distribution. This means that injections will only be given to healthcare professionals and residents, as well as care facility staff.

Missoula County According to the Ministry of Health, thousands of healthcare workers have been vaccinated and will not be able to move on to the next stage until the end of the month. Healthy guarantee Is waiting for even more doses, and the county’s first and second stage doses are reserved for people over the age of 80, Native Americans, and other people of color.

To date, more than 9,400 Montana residents have been fully vaccinated, and an additional 38,400 have been vaccinated for the first of two vaccinations, health officials said.

Montana reported 295 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the state approached 90,000 known cases since mid-March. The number of cases is believed to be much higher, as not all have been tested and studies have shown that they can be infected with the coronavirus without showing symptoms.

According to the State Department of Health, Montana’s COVID-19 deaths are at least 1,093, but hospitalizations have dropped to 163.Beyond America 400,000 people died From COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough, which heals in a few weeks. For some people, especially the elderly and those with existing health problems, it can cause more serious illnesses such as pneumonia and death.

Copyright 2021 AP communication. all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.