Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wednesday gave the final approval for kids 12 to 15 years old to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot. The move comes as a record number of children in the U.S. are hospitalized for COVID.

State wildlife officials say chronic wasting disease was detected in a deer within the city limits of Baker in southeastern Montana. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that infects members of the deer family.

RiverStone Health said more than 270 people received vaccines at its clinic this weekend, including about 150 children.

COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools are higher now than they were at the same time last year. On Wednesday, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services released its weekly report on the number of COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools.

About a month into the school year, Gallatin County health officials say schools that started the school year with a mask requirement have had fewer COVID-19 cases among students.

As COVID cases continue to climb, the city of Bozeman is launching an incentive program this week to encourage more residents to get vaccinated. Gallatin County has been in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s high transmission category for COVID cases since early August.

As COVID-19 cases in Montana increase, some school districts are putting in place mask mandates days before classes are set to begin.

Montana Universities will begin fall classes later this month. Campus Presidents at University of Montana and Montana State University are requesting that masks be worn in indoor spaces, but have decided not to implement campus-wide mask mandates.

Under 50 percent of eligible Montana residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and health officials are encouraging Montanans to continue taking protective measures in response to increasing case numbers.

About one-third of Montana counties fall under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for fully vaccinated people to wear masks in public indoor places because of substantial or high transmission of COVID-19.