The same day Montana surpassed one thousand deaths due to the coronavirus, Governor Greg Gianforte announced revisions to the state’s vaccination plan.
Gianforte says once health care workers who have direct contact or exposure to the virus are vaccinated, he’s prioritizing “the most vulnerable” and moving certain groups to the front of the vaccination eligibility line.
"All Montanans of 70 years of age or older, and Montanans age 16 to 69 that have specific underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable. I have directed the team to make this change effective immediately," he said.
This effectively bumps frontline essential workers, such as teachers, first responders and grocery store employees, along with those in congregate care and correctional facilities, to a later phase unless they have underlying health conditions. A list of eligible underlying health conditions was not available by publication.
Gianforte says the changes mean between 250,000 and 300,000 people will be included in the next phase, as opposed to the original 90,000.
This new state plan differs from CDC guidelines, which place frontline workers next in line to receive the vaccine due to infection risks they face at work.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends allocating doses to frontline essential workers and persons age 75 and older under Phase 1B, followed by essential workers, persons age 65 to 74, and people age 16 and older with underlying medical conditions under Phase 1C. The vaccine is not expected to be available to the general public until summer.
Gianforte's revisions will replace a distribution plan announced last week by his predecessor, Democrat Steve Bullock, which generally followed ACIP recommendations except to preference inmates at correctional facilities and people of color at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications under Phase 1B.
Vaccines have been arriving in Montana for nearly three weeks, headed toward health care workers who may be exposed to the virus and staff and residents at long term care facilities as part of Phase 1A as outlined by the state and CDC.
Gianforte says as of Monday 23,000 Montanans have received the vaccine and that the state has received 36,000 first doses and expects another 41,000 in the coming weeks.
"This is all good news. A vaccine will help us overcome COVID-19. But it must be widely distributed to get us there."
General Matthew Quinn, Gianforte’s coronavirus task force leader, says Montana is currently eighth in the nation for vaccinations per capita.
Gianforte says vaccination numbers will be added to the state coronavirus tracking map.
Gianforte also promised new guidelines and directives to be added while removing others in the coming weeks and months, including the statewide mask mandate.
Montana confirmed 834 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, a number much higher than recent days.
Kaitlyn Nicholas is Yellowstone Public Radio's Report for America tribal affairs reporter.
