State enters next stage of COVID-19 vaccinations
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte last week expanded Phase 1B of the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As of Monday, vaccines are now being offered to people 60 and older, and those ages 16 to 59 with high-risk medical conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and liver disease.
Tuesday morning the state Department of Public Health and Human Services was reporting on its website that 308,745 vaccine doses had been administered, with 115,390 Montanans being fully immunized.
Gianforte said the decision to expand Phase 1B was made possible by "encouraging increases" in supply, including a shipment of 8,700 doses of the just-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine that is expected to arrive later this week. The new vaccine requires a lower level of refrigeration for storage and only one dose is needed for immunization.
Gianforte said the expansion of Phase 1B will not affect the timeline for Phase 1C, which will cover all frontline essential workers. Phase 1C is expected to begin in late spring or early summer, he said.
"Montanans have been remarkably patient as we wait for more supply from the federal government," Gianforte said. "While I wish every Montanan who wanted the vaccine could get one today, the reality is that our supplies are very limited. The best thing we can do for our neighbors is prioritize Montanans who are most at risk of serious complications or death from this virus."
Teachers soon will be eligible for the vaccine as well. Several pharmacies throughout the state will be providing doses to school teachers and staff in pre-K through 12th-grade classrooms and childcare programs beginning this week.
Officials with the Montana Federation of Public Employees said in a news release that vaccines will be available through entities including Albertsons Companies, Walgreens, Walmart, Topco Associates and LeaderNET and Medicine Shoppe.
Vaccines for educators are being offered through the federal government’s Retail Pharmacy Program, which was announced by President Joe Biden earlier this week shortly after he introduced a new directive urging states to prioritize the vaccination of teachers. He said all qualifying school staff should receive at least one shot by the of March.
Teachers and other school staff were not included in the expansion announced last week by Gov. Gianforte.
Lake County Commissioners will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to consider whether to extend an emergency declaration that includes a directive for mask wearing. Commissioners voted to extend the emergency declaration for 30 days on Feb. 22, four days after Gov. Gianforte signed an executive order allowing a statewide mask directive to expire.
Contact Executive Administrative Assistant Kate Stinger at kstinger@lakemt.gov for information on attending the meeting either in person or remotely via Zoom.
The effects of COVID-19 on Lake County school attendance remain relatively low. Polson School District on Monday reported two cases among staff, with four staff members and four students under quarantine.
Ronan School District on March 5 reported three active student cases and two staff cases, with 18 students and two staff members under quarantine.
St. Ignatius Public Schools on March 2 reported one active student case and one quarantined student. The Arlee School District hasn’t reported a new case in about a month.