Montana vaccine allocation increasing as state begins Phase 2

Gov. Greg Gianforte announced in a press conference Wednesday that the state would be receiving 15,000 more doses of vaccine starting this week, bringing the weekly allocation of vaccine to almost 42,000.

He said the state will receive 15,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 11,000 Moderna vaccines and nearly 16,000 of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which will be distributed to Montanans as the state moves into Phase 2 of it's vaccine rollout plan, which includes everyone 16 years and older, today.

"April 1 is a big day for Montana as we confront the virus and work to return to more normal lives," Gianforte said.

Many municipalities, including Blaine, Chouteau, Hill and Liberty counties, have opened vaccinations to people 18 and older already.

Gianforte said he will get his own vaccine today in Lewis and Clark County, and he encourages Montanans to do the same.

"Getting the vaccine will help us protect our families and friends and get back to a normal life," he said.

He said he has long talked about getting the vaccine as an example to his fellow Montanans, and he's making good on that promise.

"As Montanans we don't just talk the talk we walk the walk," he said.

Gianforte said the vaccine is helping to reduce hospitalizations, case spread and death but acknowledged that there are some who might choose to not get the vaccine on moral grounds and that should be respected.

"My message is clear, I'm going to get vaccinated but I also respect that people have some deeply held convictions of conscience," he said. "Each person has to make their own decisions."

Gianforte said Montana's COVID-19 numbers are encouraging, with cases and hospitalizations dropping dramatically month by month since December of last year, and the state having administered 487,000 doses of vaccine.

He said his administration's approach of relying on personal responsibility rather than government restriction and mandates has contributed to the encouraging COVID-19 trends in the state.

Some officials and health care providers, including locally, have expressed concern about jurisdictions around the country lifting restrictions such as mandating wearing masks .

The number of new cases and new hospitalizations in the country have risen in the past few weeks.

Gianforte also said his administration is working on increasing access to vaccine by making it easier for pharmacies to administer more vaccine using a directive he issued Tuesday that will allow licensed and qualified health providers to assist in vaccine administration during the state of emergency. He said it also temporarily waives the restriction on the number pharmacy technicians a licensed pharmacist may supervise for the purpose of administering doses.

Gianforte said he is looking forward to continued collaborations with the states pharmacies.

He said Montanans may also be able to get the vaccine at Walgreens, CVS, Safeway, Albertsons and Walmart through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. He said more information can be found at https://vaccinefinder.org .

He also said people can find more information about how to get vaccinated locally at https://dphhs.mt.gov/covid19vaccine .

Gianforte also, once again, touted changes he made to the vaccine distribution plan that prioritized people 70 years and older, those with qualifying underlying health conditions and persons of color, as well as pushing essential workers down the priority list.

Communicable Disease Control and Emergency Preparedness Bureau Chief Bekki Kirsch Wehner said Phase 2 of the state's vaccine distribution will likely go faster than previous phases, but she couldn't give specifics about how much faster.

Gianforte thanked public health officials and hospital workers for their efforts combatting the pandemic.

During the conference he was also asked about House Bill 112, which essentially bans transgender student athletes from participating in sports teams that match their gender identity. The bill recently obtained preliminary approval in the state Senate.

Gianforte was asked specifically about he possibility of the federal government ceasing funding for Montana student athletic teams as a result of this bill being signed into law and he said he would review the situation and make the best decision for Montana.

He was also asked about the possibility of grizzly bears having their protections under the endangered species act removed.

He said the population of grizzly bears has recovered, according to the biologists he's spoken with, and he believes that the state can take care of the animals on its own.

"Montana is perfectly able to manage this population," he said.