Ravalli County Public Health Opens New Site
If you would like to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Ravalli County wants to know. Director Tiffany Webber said a Notice of Intent website registration has opened online this week. She emphasized that this is NOT a waiting list, and does not have information about vaccine availability.
The Notice of Intent registration simply lets Public Health know that you would like to receive the vaccine when it becomes available, which could be much later this year, depending on which group you are in. The Ravalli County Public Health staff will use the registrations as a database from which they would schedule appointments when vaccines are available.
Phone Calls Overwhelm Ravalli County Public Health
Over 2,600 phone calls were received by Ravalli County Public Health Monday, asking about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination appointments, according to Director Tiffany Webber. She urged people to not call any Ravalli County office about vaccine information - including Public Health, the Emergency Operations Center or other offices.
There have been only 200 doses of vaccine received by the county so far, Webber said in a news release Monday afternoon. That supply of vaccines has been reserved for the initial 1a and 1b categories of the CDC vaccination inoculation schedule. Most of those inoculations have happened. She has no official word on when future vaccine supplies will be received. When information becomes available, the office will share it with the community, but she expects that at the current rate of distribution it will take up to 6 months to complete the vaccination process in Ravalli County.
Health Officials Urge Patience About COVID-19 Vaccinations
Ravalli County and Missoula County Public Health Departments have been overwhelmed with phone calls about COVID-19 vaccination schedules. And both departments are asking the public to quit calling. Instead, Ravalli County Public Health Director Tiffany Webber said that in Ravalli County, the staff has started an online appointment and waiting list for those who are requesting appointments.
The Ravalli County vaccinations have started for the healthcare workers and first responders, but there is a limited supply. Webber said that as the department works to coordinate an efficient distribution program, they are starting an online way for you to request information and possible appointments. The email address is: rcpublichealth@rc.mt.gov
Ravalli County Receives Moderna Vaccine
Ravalli County Public Health received 100 doses of Moderna vaccine just before Christmas, according to Director Tiffany Webber. She said the training of staff has been completed, including reviewing protocols and running a mock drill for practice, with vaccinations against COVID-19 starting today.
However, only front line healthcare workers in the 1A category will be getting the vaccinations today. With more vaccine expected, Public Health is also scheduling Phase 1B workers for vaccinations when more vaccine is available. That category includes EMS, firefighters, police, dispatchers, dental, home health, hospice, funeral services and other first responders. If you are in that category, call 375-6671.