Vaccines

House Bill 702 had barred employers from mandating vaccines or requiring employees share their vaccine status. U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that it was unconstitutional and conflicted with federal law.

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday sent a legal challenge to a law banning vaccine mandates back to a lower court on a technicality. The decision is part of an ongoing legal battle over House Bill 702, which bans workplace vaccine requirements and discrimination based on vaccination status.

Law professors and attorneys said this appears to be the first time that pandemic-related laws have been challenged in court over an alleged infringement on tribal sovereignty.

Early indicators have state public health officials bracing for what could be a significant influenza season, prompting them to urge Montanans to get their flu shot in the coming weeks.

How Republicans in Montana hijacked public health and brought a hospital to the brink

The first case of Monkeypox in Montana was confirmed in a Flathead County in early August, followed by another in Gallatin County. State health officials say they have received vaccines and are working with local public health departments to track the virus.

The state health department says the administrative rule changes are being proposed because of new laws against religious and vaccination restrictions.

Some Canadian parents are making the trek into Montana to get their young children vaccinated against COVID-19.

There are a little more than 62,000 children younger than 5 years old statewide, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. While Montana health officials expect more vaccines for kids in that age group to be ordered in the coming weeks, demand could be lower compared to older children.

New Jersey-based Tonix Pharmaceuticals expects to employ around 120 people at the new facility in Ravalli County.