COVID-19 vaccination protocol and testing in Seeley

Greetings,

If you were wondering about current vaccination protocol, the Missoula City-County Health Department has a new web address, https://www.missoulainfo.com/ that will keep us up to date about the Phases of Vaccine distribution as set by Governor Bullock. You can also call 406-258-4636 to get current information.

On the website, there is a tab at the top titled Vaccination; within it is a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.

At the top of the list is the question-Who will get the first doses of vaccine?

Answer-On December 7th, 2020, Governor Steve Bullock issued a statement confirming that Community Medical Center and St. Patrick's Hospital will be the first entities in Missoula County to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and their employees would be the first to be vaccinated.

The CDC has made plans to distribute the vaccine in phases. Phase 1 of vaccine distribution is broken into Phase 1a, Phase 1b, and Phase 1c. We are currently in Phase 1a which will be the first group of people to get the vaccine and it includes health care personnel and long-term care facility residents. Phase 1b includes persons aged 75 years old or older, frontline essential workers, those residing in congregate care and correctional facilities, and American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19. Phase 1c includes those adults over the age of 65 and anyone over age 16 with high-risk medical conditions.

The FDA has granted emergency use authorization to both Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC will ship more vaccine as the supply increases. The Montana DPHHS says Phase 2 of distribution will include getting second doses to critical populations and expanding dispensing; Phase 3 will include distributing the vaccine to the general public. The Missoula City-County Health Department will continue to update the public on what vaccine distribution phase we are in.

Currently, local hospitals are receiving an overwhelming number of calls from the general public asking for the COVID-19 vaccine. PLEASE DO NOT call hospitals seeking the vaccine.

In Seeley Lake we have a Mobile Testing Clinic every Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. It is in the Foundation Building Parking Lot at 3150 MT Hwy 83 N.

No appointment is needed. All tests are FREE to Missoula County residents and same-day drive-up testing is available. However, you may call for an appointment if you desire a set time for your test. Call 406-258-INFO (4636) and select option 2 to schedule an appointment on the day before, or the day of testing. 

To get a test you must be currently experiencing COVID-compatible symptoms: Cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell.

You will receive your test results in two to five days.

At Seeley-Swan Medical Center, you may also get tested for COVID-19 if you are experiencing COVID-compatible symptoms or have been identified as a close contact. Please call 406-677-2277 for more information and to set up an appointment. Walk-ins are not accepted at our Seeley Lake location at this time.

For other testing clinics in the Missoula area go to https://www.missoulainfo.com/ and click on the tab titled Testing.

Take good care, Linda