Thousands of doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds are being distributed to state-enrolled providers across Montana. The shipments happened in anticipation of federal regulators’ final approval of the shot for younger children Tuesday.
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services spokesperson Jon Ebelt says 25,000 shots will be in providers' hands this week and that’s just a starting point. Providers will be able to quickly order more if they need to.
Missoula parent Jaclyn Foster hopes to be one of the first in line with her 5-year-old daughter and says she will be happy when her daughter has protection from the coronavirus.
“She’s loving kindergarten so much, but just having more confidence that even those kinds of day-to-day things, that she’s not going to be getting as severe of exposure anymore.”
The state health department estimates that there are roughly 90,000 5- to 11-year-olds in Montana.
The Montana Veteran Affairs health care system is offering Johnson & Johnson and Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccinations starting Nov. 4.
Veterans, their spouses, household family members and caregivers can get their vaccine through the VA. The CDC recommends boosters for individuals over the age of 65 and people 18 and older who have underlying health conditions, work in high transmission settings or live in long-term care settings.
The VA is holding a vaccine clinic at the Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic in Billings on Thursday, and in the Helena area at the National Guard Aviation Readiness Center from November 8th through the 10th.
Walk-ins are limited but welcome. Veterans who are eligible for the booster are advised to schedule their appointment as soon as possible.
