COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinics set

People have multiple opportunities for COVID-19 vaccinations, including for the newly authorized Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination for children 5-11, and for getting COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.

Northern Montana Health Care is holding vaccination clinics for children 5-11 in Havre's Holiday Village Mall today and Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.

A Facebook post from Northern Montana Health Care said the Pfizer vaccine is available for ages 5-18, a two-shot series 21 days apart. A parent or guardian must be present.

"Pfizer Covid Community Consent" forms are available at Northern Montana Health Care's "Documents" page at https://nmhcare.org/about-us/documents .

Blaine County Health Department has a COVID-19 booster shot clinic set for today and Wednesday in the Commercial Building at the Blaine County Fairgrounds from 3-6:30 p.m. each day.

A children's vaccination clinic for COVID-19 and influenza started today at Lodge Pole Elementary School starting at 10 a.m., and another is set at Harlem Elementary School, also starting at 10 a.m. Consent slips were sent home with students last week.

A post on the Fort Belknap Indian Community Facebook page said parents who want to get their children vaccinated also can call the public health nursing department at 406-353-3250 or the pharmacy at 406-353-3104.

Rocky Boy Health Center also has scheduled vaccination clinics for children 5-11, with one from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, and another 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, both in the Rocky Boy Health Center Grand Hallway. A parent or guardian must be present with the child, the Facebook post announcing the clinics said.

Another post said appointments will be available at the health center Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Child vaccines will not be administered at the mobile locations at this time and incentives will be announced soon, the post said.

It invited people to call 406-395-1655 to schedule a vaccination appointment.

During the surge, health officials have continued the message they have given basically from the start of the pandemic.

People should stay home if they don't feel well, the officials say, should regularly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap or with a hand sanitizer including at least 60 percent alcohol, should regularly wash and sanitize surfaces, should wear a mask when in indoor public spaces, and anyone who can should get vaccinated.

For more information and to schedule vaccinations, local residents have a list of resources.

In Hill County, vaccinations are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, 406-395-4305; the Hill County Health Department, 406-400-2415; Northern Montana Health Care's Specialty Medical Center at 406-265-7831 or its Family Medical Center at 406-265-5408; Western Drug Pharmacy, 406-265-9601; Gary & Leo's Pharmacy, which takes walk-ins; Walmart; and the Rocky Boy Health Center, 406-395-1655.

Vaccinations are available in Blaine County through Blaine County Health Department, 406-357-2345, and Fort Belknap Health Center, 406-353-3219.

Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Department, 406-622-3771, and Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588.

People can call Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517 to schedule a vaccination.