Yellowstone County public health officials say they’ve seen the county’s youngest resident death from COVID-19 related illness so far this year.
The patient was a woman in her 30s, who had underlying medical conditions and had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. She died at a Billings hospital Wednesday.
The state health department’s latest interim analysis of COVID-19 cases shows 23 people under the age of 40 had died from COVID-19 related illness since the start of the pandemic through the first week of June.
State health department data show more than 1,638 Montanans have died from the virus since the pandemic arrived in the state.
Last week, Yellowstone County’s health department announced hospitalizations from COVID-19 were increasing, even after new cases had leveled off. The majority of those hospitalized hadn’t been vaccinated.
According to the state health department, 44 percent of Montanans ages 12 and older are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Vaccine clinics are scheduled at the county health department, Montana State University Billings and area city parks this and next week. The vaccine is also available at many pharmacies.
The clinic at Montana State University Billings will offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is approved for age 18 and older and requires only one dose. All other clinics listed will offer both the J&J vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for ages 12 and older and requires two doses.
- Friday, June 11, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., RiverStone Health, 123 S. 27th St., in the four-story building.
- Friday, June 11, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Petro Theatre, Montana State University main campus, J &J vaccine for people age 18 and older.
- Monday, June 14, noon-1 p.m., Castle Rock Park during Reading Rocks and the Billings Public Schools free summer lunch program.
- Tuesday, June 15, noon-1 p.m., Pioneer Park during Reading Rocks and the lunch program.
- Wednesday, June 16, noon-1 p.m., Castle Rock Park.
- Thursday, June 17, noon-1 p.m., Central Park during Reading Rocks and lunch program.
People under 18 must have a vaccination consent form signed by a parent or guardian. Consent forms are available at the clinics and at covid.riverstonehealth.org under “vaccinations”.
