Health care employers opt to make COVID-19 vaccines for staff optional
and last updated 2021-04-28 23:28:07-04
Over a year into the coronavirus pandemic, health care workers are continuing to battle infections.
As vaccination efforts intensified, those on the front lines, like Dr.Tim Martindale, knew getting vaccinated was the best way to keep himself safe as he treats his patients. It s still out there. We have much less, but I ve had patients with it last week. For me, with my thought of being close to death having had COVID a year ago, coming close to death, it was a slam dunk easy choice. I want the vaccine. I don t want to go through that again, he said.
BOZEMAN, Mont. â The first of the first responders to any emergency in Gallatin County and beyond can make the difference in saving a life.
The Gallatin County Commissioners declared this week 911 Dispatcher Appreciation Week during the national Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to honor the calm voices on the other side of every emergency call.
Gallatin County 911Â public safety dispatchers provide crucial communication for 15 fire departments, five law enforcement agencies, two ambulance services and one helicopter service in the county.
In 2020, dispatchers answered 119,437 calls, a number that is rapidly increasing as the county continues to grow with more and more public safety resources.
Wheels are turning for Gallatin County radio project to improve 911 communications
Improved 911 communications are in the works for Gallatin County
and last updated 2021-03-10 10:18:28-05
GALLATIN COUNTY â Gallatin Countyâs 911 director says the wheels are turning when it comes to the countyâs radio project, something thatâs been in the works for awhile, with improvements to come thanks to Gallatin County voters.
âWith updated technology, itâs gonna allow us to do things weâve only dreamed about doing before with our radio system,â said 911 Director Tim Martindale.
Martindale says the countyâs radio and communication system will see some major technological improvements.
Lynnâs La Vega Pharmacy owner Lynn Everett has stepped in to help the staff field a deluge of calls about whether the pharmacy has started providing COVID-19 vaccines to the general public.
Like other vaccine providers in McLennan County, including doctorâs offices, pharmacies and other entities, Lynnâs still has plenty of front-line health care workers to get to before it will be able to expand who can receive shots. The pharmacy received 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine Monday, had 38 doses left by Wednesday and now has a waiting list of 300 people.
âWe have other front-line workers and we donât have enough to cover them at this point,â Everett said. âWeâre trying to decide what we can do, and we donât want to waste any.â