Local Vaccination Team to Open Vaccination toAll Tiers of Phase 1b Beginning Next Week, Appointments Required

Helena – First dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals in all tiers of Phase 1b will begin with two clinics next week. Those in Phase 1b include American Indians or other persons of color aged 16 years and older regardless of medical condition; persons aged 16-69 years with high-risk medical conditions; and anyone aged 70 years and older. Those eligible MUST reside in Lewis and Clark County. Pre-registration is required.

All Phase 1b clinics are also open to individuals included in Phase 1a (healthcare workers). Individuals eligible for Phase 1b must supply ID for proof of age and residency. Phase 1a individuals have other specific requirements for vaccination. This information is available on the local COVID-19 Hub at https://www.helenamontanamaps.org/LCPHCovid19HUB/

LCPH follows guidance from Montana DPHHS, which defines high-risk medical conditions as serious heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies, cancer, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant, Down syndrome, sickle cell disease, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and severe obesity (those with a body mass index equal or greater than 40 kilograms/m2).

Two first dose drive-thru clinics will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 23 and Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. All first dose clinics are held at the Lewis and Clark County fairgrounds.

A minimum of 450 vaccinations will be administered on each day next Tuesday and Wednesday.

To better serve the community and efficiently distribute vaccine, individuals must secure a free appointment to one of the events and supply a photo ID for proof of age showing their date of birth and an address in Lewis and Clark County. If the photo ID provided does not have an address, such as a US Passport, individuals can present a utility bill, phone bill, or another document with a Lewis and Clark County address.

Individuals that cannot supply proof of age and residency will give up their appointment time and be turned away.

The registration site for the clinics is hosted on Waitwhile. A link to secure an appointment at any of the clinics can only be found on our COVID-19 Hub at http://www.helenamontanamaps.org/LCPHCovid19HUB/, or on Lewis and Clark Public Health's website at https://www.lccountymt.gov/health.html and look for the 'COVID-19 Hub' link on the main page.

Registration for all clinics will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, and end when appointment times are exhausted.

Rocky Mountain Development Council Area IV Agency on Aging has volunteered to provide those who have access barriers to the online ticketing system with a call center at 406-447-1680. The call center will run beginning Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Again, this phone line is NOT for the general public, but is for those eligible for Phase 1b with accessibility issues.

COVID-19 symptoms may appear 2-14 days (2 weeks) after exposure to the virus and include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Also, be aware of emergency warning signs of severe COVID-19 disease. Individuals showing any of the following signs or symptoms should seek emergency medical care at once: trouble breathing, persistent pressure or pain in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face coloring.

For the most current available data on local COVID-19 cases, view the Local COVID-19 Decision Making Dashboard at http://www.lccountymt.gov/health/covid-19/local-covid-19-decision-making-dashboard.html.

Preventing and controlling local COVID-19 is dependent on personal responsibility and individual choices that residents of our county can make to protect our community. Lewis and Clark Public Health continues to urge people to do the right thing to protect our community, practice what has been learned over the last few months, such as physical distancing, wearing a face covering, avoiding large gatherings, washing hands, and sanitizing surfaces to protect ourselves and others.

If you have questions, please call Lewis and Clark Public Health at 457-8900.