Blaine County invites people to call about Phase 1B vaccinations

Staff and wire report

Blaine County Health Department announced in a press release it is planning for transition to Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccination which is estimated to begin in mid-January depending on vaccine availability and completion of the vaccination of Phase 1A recipients.

“We currently have COVID-19 vaccine in our inventory, and are finishing our efforts to vaccinate people in the Phase 1A group,” Blaine County Health Officer and Public Health Nurse Jana McPherson-Hauer said this morning. “When that is complete, we will move on to phase 1B. Because the criteria for qualification broadens so much in 1B, we are now asking people to contact us instead of us reaching out to them like we were able to while coordinating distribution to Phase 1A recipients.”

Hill County Health Department Program Assistant Diona Buck said this morning that that department is still working through Phase 1A vaccinations and is working with Northern Montana Health Care and Bullhook Community Health Center to set up community vaccination clinics for some eligible categories in the Phase 1B phase once that phase begins, which she said Hill County should be moving into in one to two weeks.

Buck said the department will be putting out more information once the dates for those clinics is closer.

Phase 1B qualifications, listed on the state Department of Public Health and Human Services website at https://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/Documents/Coronavirus/COVID-19Vaccine

AllocationPlan.pdf, are:

• People age 75 years and older

• People residing in congregate care, such as group homes, and correctional facilities

• Front-line essential workers:

— First responders

— Education and all child care workers

— Critical infrastructure federal employees

— Food and agricultural producers

— Manufacturing

— Corrections workers

— US Postal Service employees

— Public transit workers

— Grocery store workers

— Child and adult protective service workers who are at risk for exposure

— Inspectors of congregate care facilities or like settings

— Critical infrastructure energy workers

— Critical infrastructure information-technology workers

• American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications

People who meet the criteria of Phase 1B and are interested in vaccination are asked to call the Blaine County Health Department a 357-2345 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The release said Blaine County Health Department staff members will:

• Collect information from callers

• Call back to schedule and provide appointment details

Phase 1A of the Montana vaccination allocation is underway, with front-line health care workers, long-term care facilities and health care workers with direct patient contact or virus exposure eligibilities.

People who do not meet 1B criteria and are interested in COVID-19 vaccination through the Blaine County Health Department are asked in the release to continue to watch for additional updates on its transition to the next phase.

“Thank you for working with Blaine County Health Department toward a solution,” the release said. “We appreciate your patience as we continue to adhere to vaccine allocation guidelines, as well as respond to the ongoing public health needs in our communities.”