Gianforte provides update on vaccine progress

Gov. Greg Gianforte provided an update on Montana's vaccine rollout and reiterated his concerns about the allocation given to the state by the federal government at a press conference Wednesday where he also addressed the resignation of State Medical Officer Greg Holzman.

Gianforte said the state continues to see an effective vaccine rollout as its case numbers continue to drop.

He again talked about the state redirecting 20,000 doses of unused vaccine and how last week he saw firsthand the results.

He said he saw, during a visit to a vaccination clinic in Polson Friday, 1,000 of those very vaccines distributed like clockwork.

"I talked with seniors who shed tears of joy because of the fear that had been lifted from them," Gianforte said.

He said there is still a long way to go before Phase 1B is over, but 55,000 Montanans are now fully immunized and for the first time in a press conference he's been able to say active COVID-19 hospitalizations are fewer than 100.

The state COVID-19 tracking map this morning put the number of active hospitalizations back up, at 109.

He also said he expects that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine might be available for Montanans as early as later this month if all goes well.

Gianforte said active case numbers are down 85 percent since mid-November of 2020.

Mid-November is when the Bullock Administration announced more strict mandates regarding business capacity, hours of operation and gathering size, mandates Gianforte has since rescinded.

Gianforte also addressed the recent announcement that Holzman would be resigning effective April 16, saying it had nothing to do with decisions made by the governor's office.

"This is a difficult time for health care professionals during the pandemic," Gianforte said. "I thank him for his service. At no point did he express opposition to the decisions our administration has made."

Holzman announced his resignation the day after Gianforte lifted the statewide mask mandate. His resignation letter did not give a reason for his resignation.

When asked Wednesday if he'd spoken with county level health officers and about their concerns regarding the lifting of the mandate, Gianforte said they can make decisions for themselves, and the rescinding of the mandate was part of a move toward personal responsibility instead of meaningless centrally controlled mandates.

Blaine County Public Health Nurse Jana McPherson-Hauer has criticized the lifting of the mandate, and the Hill County Board of Health is holding a special meeting today to determine whether to create a countywide mandate.

On another front, the Legislature is considering a bill that would essentially nullify local health measures like mask mandates.

Gianforte said during Wednesday's press conference that good news about Montana's progress in the pandemic is accompanied by the state's still-lower-than-average per capita vaccine allocation.

He said he has repeatedly spoken one-on-one with Biden Administration staff and he's still unclear as to how the federal government makes decisions as to how much vaccine each state gets.

He said he's still pushing the federal government to increase Montana's allocation and thanked the state's congressional delegation for joining him in making that demand.

Gianforte also said he recently registered his concerns about Montana not being included the administration's Federally Qualified Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program.

He said that since he pressed the issue Missoula County Health Center has become part of the program, and he thanked the president for making sure that happened.

Gianforte was asked during the press conference about Senate Bill 100, which would require the Department of Public Health and Human Services to create a process for cross-checking a Medicaid applicant's eligibility. He said he's not familiar with the bill.

He was also asked about a number of bills making their way through the Legislature that would limit the governor's power during a state of emergency.

He said he agrees with some and not others. and he will continue talking to legislators. He said COVID-19 is a unique situation and it's important that it does not create an overreaction.

"We'll see what makes it to my desk," he said.