Hill County COVID-19 vaccinations up to 6,000

Community members held a sign-painting event last night outside Bullhook Community Health Center in Havre, updating the sign's COVID-19 vaccination total to 6,040 people, 48 percent of the goal of all 13,256 eligible people.

Northern Montana Health Care Director of Infection Prevention Alysia Mosness attended the sign-painting along with Bullhook Community Health Center CEO Kyndra Hall.

"So, just kind of talking on behalf of Northern Montana Health Care, we do feel that the best defense that we have is vaccinating against the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in cases in the past few weeks, Mosness said. "Right now, Montana ranks 36th for our percent of population vaccinated, so we are so on the lower side. So we're looking for that number really to increase."

Mosness said 6,000 vaccinations in Hill County is a good number but there is still farther to go.

She said, as of last week, compared to the week prior, cases in Montana have gone up 76 percent and hospitalizations have increased 47 percent, adding that the pandemic is "for real. It is still here, something that we still are battling"

"With the Delta variant here (in the U.S.), a big thing I want to talk about is that kids seem to be getting sicker. We're kind of seeing that trend in other states majority of these children are not eligible to be vaccinated yet, so it's kind of time for us to step up and start vaccinating for those who can't get vaccinated," Mosness continued.

No cases of the COVID-19 delta variant have been confirmed in Hill County, although a case of the variant has been confirmed in Blaine County.

Mosness said if people are still in need of a vaccination, they can call either Northern Montana Health Care's Specialty Medical Center, at 406-265-7831, or it's family Family Medical Center, at 406-265-5408.

In Hill County, vaccinations also are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, the Hill County Health Department, Western Drug Pharmacy, Gary & Leo's Pharmacy, Walmart and the Rocky Boy Health Center.

Vaccinations are available in Blaine County through the Blaine County Health Department and Fort Belknap Health Center.

Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Center.

In Liberty County, Liberty County Health Department is providing vaccinations.

Mosness said the Northern Montana Health Care clinics have the Moderna vaccine every day and give the Pfizer vaccine Wednesdays. She added the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not available at the clinics. She also added that there will be more pop-up vaccination clinics in the future.

Hall also emphasized the importance of vaccinations.

"I would just like to echo what Alysia said and really push that we do need to step up for our kids and our elderly and get our COVID vaccinations done. Unfortunately, the pandemic isn't over. And we need to keep being diligent," Hall said.

Kris Martens, a member of the group that put up and paints the vaccination sign, said she was grateful to the 6,000 mostly older people who have gotten vaccinated.

She challenged the community and young people to step up and get vaccinated to combat the COVID-19 Delta variant.

"I also would like to say just some of the big pockets where that can be taken care of would be (Montana State University-Northern). Personally, I would like to see everybody vaccinated out there," Martens said

"The other places like all the facilities, Northern Montana Hospital is one that ... I don't believe all their staff is vaccinated. I think it's very, very important for this community that some of these health care facilities will follow science and get that job taken care of," Martens continued.

Martens added she's really interested in the number 13,256 ... getting the eligible 13,256 people vaccinated in Hill County, saying 1,000 of the people who are vaccinated are from Rocky Boy, dropping the percentage in the rest of the county if Rocky Boy weren't included in that total.

Will Rawn, spokesperson for the group, said they recognize the pandemic is far from over.

"We're still gonna have cases, we understand that. What the great thing though is, at least now we've got 6,000 people who are a lot less likely to get deadly sick than they would have been otherwise, and are a lot less likely to make somebody who's on chemotherapy sick. So that's a great thing, that's what we're celebrating," Rawn said.

Hill County Health Department Public Health Director and Hill County Health Officer Kim Berg was unable to attend the event but expressed similar feelings in a written statement given to Havre Daily News.

"I am excited to see that our immunization numbers are going up, but I want to reiterate that we still have a long ways to go. We are seeing an increase in cases, just as the state and nation are, and the best way to stop that trend is to increase our vaccination rate," she said in the statement.

"Thank you to everyone out there who has gotten vaccinated and for those with questions or concerns, please email or call us or your primary care provider and talk to us. We are here to help you understand the vaccines, how they work and why they are our best chance at stopping the pandemic," she added.