Montana VA Health Care System begins COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution with Moderna Vaccine

Helena, Mont. - The Fort Harrison VA Medical Center just received its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine at around 8:00 a.m., Dec. 23. The MTVAHCS will begin distributing the Moderna vaccine today.

"Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS) is excited to have our first shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for our health care personnel and our Miles City community living center residents and staff," said Executive Director, Dr. Judy Hayman. "For over nine months, our healthcare teams and Veterans have adapted time and time again to meet every new challenge during the pandemic. That said, we must remain vigilant-the pandemic is not over. Starting today though, we are going to celebrate that the arrival of the vaccines mark the next phase towards ending the pandemic. As our vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccination to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated."

Fort Harrison VA Medical Center is one of 113 VA Medical Centers across the country to receive the first limited supply of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Sites were identified based on need for the vaccine according to CDC's 1A prioritization and capacity to store the vaccine at -20◦C.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was 94 percent effective in clinical trials in preventing COVID-19 disease. The vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart. The side effects appear similar to those of other vaccines and are short-lived.

Thirty-seven medical centers began offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and Veterans Dec 14. Fifteen additional VA facilities will receive an allocation of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of December 21.

Even after receiving COVID-19 vaccination, employees and Veterans should continue wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing and washing hands often.

As vaccines become available for more groups of Veterans, MTVAHCS care teams will reach out to eligible Veterans to schedule vaccinations. There is no need to preregister or come to a facility to sign up. Veterans can get up-to-date information on VA's VA COVID-19 vaccine webpage, which launched on Dec.11, 2020, and sign up to receive regular updates on the vaccine on the VA's Stay Informed page.

MTVAHCS's overall trust scores-which derive from Veteran rankings of their health care experiences-are at a historic high. MTVAHCS provides healthcare to Veterans across Montana through a series of community-based clinics, the Miles City Community Living Center (Montana VA's only nursing home), an acute care medical center, a nationally acclaimed sleep center, and robust telehealth services.

The MTVAHCS serves over 47,000 enrolled Veterans across Montana-an area roughly 147,000 square miles in size. Veterans are cared for by a staff of 1,400 at 17 sites of care across the state. One third of Montana VA employees are Veterans.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Holiday Hours

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

The Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS) is excited to announce that the first shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines arrived at our Fort Harrison VA Medical Center this morning!

The vaccine will be distributed to enrolled Veterans based on a risk stratification table. First, MTVAHCS frontline staff and our Community Living Center residents and staff will be vaccinated. Veterans who are considered highly vulnerable will be the next to receive the vaccine.

As you are identified by clinical staff to be within each risk level to receive the Moderna vaccine, a healthcare team member will contact you to schedule a vaccine appointment. MTVAHCS encourages all Veterans to receive a COVID-19 vaccination (the vaccine is not mandatory). We understand that you may have questions about a new vaccine. Please do not hesitate to send your healthcare team a secure message through MyHealtheVet or call 844-819-0833 to set up a time to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine will be administered in two separate doses, approximately one month apart. Recipients may experience a mild reaction to the first dose (injection site soreness, muscle aches, etc.) and possibly a greater reaction to the second dose (chills, nausea, headaches, fever, fatigue, etc.).

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, reference these COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs. To learn more about the MTVAHCS's COVID-19 response, please read here.

Holiday hours

Please note that Montana VA Health Care System locations will be closed on Friday, December 25th. This year, December 24th has been declared a federal holiday. The following clinics will be closed on December 24th: Anaconda, Miles City, Glendive, Glasgow, Havre, Hamilton, and Cut Bank. Lewistown, Missoula, Great Falls, Fort Harrison, Kalispell, Bozeman, and Billings will be closing at noon or later on 12/24. All appointments scheduled for December 24th will still take place. Please call 844-819-0833 if you would like to reschedule.

Virtual options (VA Video Connect or phone) may also available for those wanting their appointment at an earlier time or date.

On December 24th, for non-emergency related health questions or concerns, please call the Nurse Triage Line at 1-877-468-8387. For emergencies, please call 911 or go to the closest Emergency Department.

We wish you all the blessings, joy, and peace of this holiday season! It is our honor to serve you!