Community Medical receives vaccines; Montana VA selected for doses

Community Medical Center on Tuesday received its first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine and will begin administering it to frontline workers and emergency medical services this week.

Also on Tuesday, Sen. Jon Tester said the Montana VA was selected as one of 103 VA locations in the U.S. that will receive the initial dose of Moderna's variation of the vaccine.

“This first round of vaccinations will help save lives by effectively slowing the spread of the coronavirus at VA facilities, local hospitals, and in the community,” Tester said. “I will continue to hold VA accountable in ensuring that it adequately distributes this vaccine to various clinics across the state— specially those in rural areas — to better protect veterans and frontline workers.”

Montana Health Officials on Tuesday reported 803 new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of infected since March to more than 74,000. More than 826 individuals have died in Montana as a result of the virus, and 338 people are currently being hospitalized.

Megan Condra, spokesperson for Community Medical Center in Missoula, said the hospital on Tuesday had received its initial allocation of vaccines. She said the hospital received 975 doses and will begin administering them on Thursday.

“We will begin distributing them in accordance with prioritization guidance from the CDC, the federal government and Montana DPHHS,” Condra said. “We have prioritized frontline staff and Missoula Emergency Services personnel followed by our clinical and non-clinical staff and medical staff.”

Condra said that once the vaccine is more widely available, the hospital will encourage more widespread community inoculations.

“Once the vaccine becomes more broadly available, we will strongly encourage our community to get vaccinated,” she said. “We will continue to work closely with the Health Department, Providence St. Patrick Hospital and DPHHS on distribution of future COVID-19 vaccine doses.”