What We Learned About the COVID Vaccine 

Tuesday on the XL Morning Show, we spoke with Patrick Lonergan, Chief Emergency Management & Fire, Mike Maltaverne of the Bozeman City Fire Department, and Matt Kelley, Health Officer for Gallatin County. You can listen to the entire interview below.

The topic was the current distribution for the COVID-19 vaccine in Gallatin County. Here's what we found out:

1. As of today Gallatin County is averaging 1300 doses of the vaccine a week. The issue locally is not in distributing the vaccine but in getting enough of the vaccine to distribute.
2. Distribution locations for the vaccine in Gallatin County includes the fairgrounds, hospital, and MSU. They are hoping that pharmacies get the vaccine for distribution soon.
3. The vaccine is free for most people. Some providers, however, are charging an administrative fee.
4. You must sign up to get the vaccine. Please don't just show up.
5. You do not get to choose which vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) you get. But you will get both shots from the same company.
6. It is not uncommon to feel ill after having the vaccine shot.
7. Don't know how long the vaccine will be good for until more people get vaccinated and more studies are conducted.
8. We are currently in Phase 1B, which includes those over 70, people with certain underlying health conditions, and people of color, and people who were eligible in Phase 1A but did not receive the vaccine.
9. To receive updated vaccine info by text, sign up for Send a text to 888777 with the corresponding message (all one word, no spaces).
   • Phase1b
   • Phase1c
   • Phase2
10. More COVID-19 vaccine info is available at HealthyGallatin.org.