The Cascade City-County Health Department in Great Falls said in a new release on Tuesday that it is working with community partners to finish Phase 1A vaccinations to healthcare workers throughout Cascade County this week. Here is the full text of the news release:
The week of January 18, 2021, our community will be able to move into Phase 1B of the Montana State Vaccine Allocation Plan. Cascade County will be receiving allocations regularly and the individuals in Phase 1B will be vaccinated over the next two months.
More information will be released early next week. Please do not show up at health agencies or call inquiring about vaccine availability before information is released about Phase 1B early next week. This takes valuable time away from our health agencies who are already overwhelmed.
In Phase 1B, the following groups are eligible for vaccination:
- Persons aged 70 years and older
- American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications
- Persons aged 16-69 with high-risk medical conditions. Qualifying medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 1 & 2 Diabetes mellitus
- On a case by case basis, medical providers may include individuals with other conditions that place them at elevated risk for COVID-19 related complications.
Governor Greg Gianforte’s COVID-19 vaccine allocation plan anticipates that it will take two months for all Montanans in these populations to receive their first dose of the vaccine. You can read the full vaccination plan, updated January 5, 2020, by clicking here (PDF).
It is to the benefit of every community member that businesses and individuals continue to take prevention seriously, even as they await the arrival of the vaccine, and do everything they can to curb the spread of this virus. Known prevention measures include:
- Staying home when you are sick and getting tested if symptoms are consistent with COVID-19
- Limiting interactions with others and thinking critically about the necessity of engaging in certain events/outings/gatherings
- Social distancing wherever possible
- Universal masking and proper mask wearing
- Good sanitation practices and hand washing
- Quarantining if you are a close contact, remaining in quarantine for at least 10 days, and notifying a health care provider if you experience any symptoms
- Isolating if you are positive, and notifying everyone you were in contact with for 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms or 48 hours prior to test date
Together we can make an impact.