COVID-19 vaccine phases listed
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According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana is in Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination process through March 15. This phase prioritizes people 70 years and older; American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications; and those 16-69 with high-risk medical conditions.
Qualifying medical conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Down syndrome, heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies, an immune-compromised state from solid organ transplant, severe obesity, sickle cell disease, or type 1 and 2 diabetes.
On a case-by-case basis, medical providers may include individuals with other conditions that place them at elevated risk for COVID-related complications.
Phase 1C (March 15-July 15) widens parameters to include the following:
• Frontline essential workers (this group includes police, firefighters, teachers, prison guards, postal workers, bus drivers and grocery store workers)
• People 60 years and older
• Individuals residing in congregate care and correctional facilities
• People 16-59 with medical conditions not included in phase 1B that may have an elevated-risk of COVID-19 complications. Those conditions include asthma, cerebrovascular disease, cystic fibrosis, hypertension, weakened immune systems caused by a variety of health conditions (blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines), neurologic conditions, liver disease, pulmonary fibrosis, thalassemia, or being overweight.
Phase 2 is slated to begin in July, and covers all remaining Montanans 16 or older. For the complete list of phases and health conditions, visit dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/coronavirusvaccine.
As of Jan. 20, 60,390 doses have been administered in Montana since the vaccine first became available the week of Dec. 14, and 10,272 residents were fully immunized.
Phase 1a, the first phase, of the vaccine distribution included healthcare workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities and has now been expanded to include additional healthcare workers with direct patient contact, such as dentists, orthodontists, physical therapists, optometrists, home health workers and others that fit the criteria.
