Montana COVID-19 Vaccination Guide

Montana Public Radio | By MTPR News

Published April 1, 2021 at 2:54 AM MDT

As of April 1, all Montana residents ages 16 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Find more information about the vaccine, including where and how to get yours. Updated April 01, 2021.

Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Find a vaccination clinic near you with the state's vaccine finder
NPR's vaccine guide can help you sign up for a vaccine in or out of Montana
Montanans can get a vaccine from their local health department or medical provider
The state health department suggests monitoring messaging from counties for specific information about vaccine availability. Search for county public health contacts on this map, or find their contact info at the bottom of this page.
Pharmacies are offering COVID-19 vaccination appointments in some locations. The CDC and its partners recently launched a tool to search for vaccine providers. Search the VaccineFinder.

Vaccines are also available for qualifying Montanans at Indian Health Service clinics and VA clinics.

How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost me?

Nothing. The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccination providers may seek reimbursement for vaccine administration fees by a patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Provider Relief Fund. According to the CDC, no one can be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay a vaccine administration fee.

I've already had COVID, do I still need to get vaccinated?

The CDC says yes. Those who have been infected with COVID-19 can be re-infected if they are not vaccinated.

Is the vaccine safe? What are the side effects?

The CDC says COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves COVID-19 vaccines only after they go through rigorous studies for safety and effectiveness
According to the CDC after COVID-19 vaccination you may have some side effects and those are normal signs that your body is building protection. The CDC says side effects from COVID-19 vaccination include flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. Side effects should subside within a few days

What can I do once I'm fully vaccinated?

First, be sure you are fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
- If it has been less than 2 weeks since your final dose you are not fully protected. Keep taking all prevention steps until you are fully vaccinated

The CDC says you should still take steps to protect yourself and others, like wearing a mask, social-distancing and avoiding poorly ventilated spaces. Continue to take these precautions whenever you are:
- In public
- Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
- Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk
You should still avoid medium or large-sized gatherings
You should still delay domestic and international travel. If you do travel, you’ll still need to follow CDC requirements and recommendations
You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace.
You should still take precautions, especially around unvaccinated people, in both small and in large groups
Researchers are still learning about how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19