Gallatin County Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility on April 1
The Gallatin City-County Health Department confirmed that it will be following the state’s expanded eligibility criteria starting on April 1, according to a press release sent out Tuesday, March 23.
After meeting with community stakeholders and health care professionals, the Gallatin City-County Health Department announced that beginning April 1, people 16 and older in Gallatin County will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
While vaccines will be available for most residents in Gallatin County starting in April, the Health Department emphasized that it will continue to provide expanded access to people in higher-risk groups, including those 60 and older, people with certain underlying health conditions, and people of color and American Indians.
The Health Department says that in order to provide access to people in those higher-risk groups, there will likely be some COVID-19 vaccine clinics that are open only to people over 60 years old and those in higher-risk populations. Demand for the vaccine from those groups continues to outpace supplies of vaccine available in Gallatin County.
We’re determined to make vaccines available to those who have been eligible for some time and waiting. At the same time, we also will be working to expand access to younger people as outlined in the state’s expanded eligibility criteria.
said Matt Kelley, Health Officer in Gallatin County.
If you have any questions, the Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is a great resource for all things COVID-19 related in Gallatin County. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.
The most accurate local source of information remains the GCCHD website.
LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.