Vaccine available to every Montanan 16 and older in April

At a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced that all Montanans 16 and older will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations beginning April 1, bypassing Phase 1C of the original distribution plan.

Hill County Public Health Director and Health Officer Kim Larson has said Hill County only has access to the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which are only authorized for people 18 and older.

However, she said the department can coordinate with primary care providers and partnered health departments 16- and 17- year olds can get vaccinated.

The federal government has not yet approved any vaccine for people younger than 16.

Gianforte said increases in vaccine production nationwide have made this possible and more vaccine distribution will get people's lives back on track, especially those most at risk from the pandemic.

"Hope is growing stronger," he said. "... For the first time in a long time, the most vulnerable among us feel they can return to a sense of normalcy, and slowly but surely we are all returning to normalcy."

He said as many people need to get the vaccine as possible if things are ever going to return to normal and many counties reported recently that they were almost ready to move into Phase 1C, now bypassed with Gianforte's announcement.

"I've said for some time that when my name is called, I will get the vaccine," he said. "Well, my name, like all other Montanans 16 and older is coming up soon."

He also said he wanted to get a message to people out of the state as well.

"Montana is open for business," Gianforte said.

He said the vaccines are safe and will protect Montanans who get it as well as their loved ones, and he said the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will soon be running educational PSA's about the vaccines on radio and television.

DPHHS will also be reaching out to those jurisdictions that feel they need support for the transition on April 1, Gianforte said.

COVID-19 Task Force Director Maj. Gen. Matthew Quinn said they will be encouraging them to expand the number of places in their respective areas that can give out the vaccine.

Gianforte said the department is also looking at working with pharmacy partners to get them more vaccine through the state, as well as 400 more possible partners they'd like to see become distribution sites for the vaccines.

During the conference he praised the accomplishments of Montana's health care workers and volunteers for their work distributing and administering the vaccine, but said no one in the state has been unaffected by the pandemic, and many are still fighting for their lives.

Gianforte also, again, touted his own accomplishments as governor, calling attention to his changes to the vaccine distribution plan earlier in his term, and the expansion of Phase 1B+ two weeks ago to include people 60 and older.

He said 140,000 Montanans, about 16 percent of residents 16 and older, are now fully immunized and the number of new cases and hospitalizations are better than they've been in well over six months.

He said essential workers will not be given any priority and that his administration's goal has consistently been the protection of the most vulnerable.

Gianforte said a Montana ID is not required to get the vaccine and people should look at the website for local public health organization for more information.