Governor Urges Residents To Get Shots

Get your vaccination shots for COVID. That’s the message that Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte stressed during a press conference on Wednesday, March 31.

“Our trend lines remain encouraging,” Gianforte said. “The reason for that is the vaccines are safe and effective.”

Gianforte noted how the state’s COVID numbers keep improving during a press conference on Wednesday, March 31.

He said there were 546 new cases daily in Montana during December. That number decreased to 353 in January, 190 in February and 107 in March.

Daily hospitalizations have decreased from 300 in December to 165 in January to 55 in March.

“This is real progress,” Gianforte said. Vaccines became available for all Montanans, 16 years or older, on Thursday, April 1. Gianforte received his first dose on that day.

“These vaccines are saving lives,” Gianforte said. “Getting vaccines will help us protect our families and friends.”

Gianforte has issued a directive to reduce barriers to vaccine administration in pharmacies across Montana.

The directive authorizes pharmacists to use any health care provider, who is licensed by Montana or another state and who is qualified to administer vaccines under his or her scope of practice, to assist in the administration of COVID-19 vaccines for the duration of the state of emergency.

The directive also temporarily waives a restriction on the number of pharmacy technicians a registered pharmacist may supervise for the purpose of administering the COVID-19 vaccine and conducting associated administrative duties and procedures.