Vaccine arrives at Veterans’ Home

Lois Cook, a longtime nurse at the Montana Veterans’ Home was happy to get the novel coronavirus vaccine last week.

“Hopefully residents can start seeing family again,” she said.

Last week Walgreens delivered vaccinations to the home, which has been under lockdown since last spring when the coronavirus outbreak first began.

Cook, who has worked at the home since 1989 wore her “shot shirt” — a shirt with holes in the sleeves so she didn’t have to roll them up.

All told, 80 residents and 98 staff were vaccinated. There will be second shots on Jan. 20 and another round in February to vaccinate staff and residents that missed the first rounds. Staff waited in line at the chapel for their shots, while residents were vaccinated in their rooms. Once vaccinated, staff waited 15 minutes to make sure they weren’t having an allergic reaction.

The hope is that family eventually can start visiting loved ones at the home. When that will happen is still unknown at this point, said administrator Joren Underdahl. He said it depends on the county’s positivity rate. Visitation would be a stepped approach, not just opened doors again, he noted.

“Most likely in a visitation area with a separating barrier between.  Similar to our outside through window visits, but moved indoors,” he said.

At Timber Creek Village Assisted Living Center in Columbia Falls, vaccinations started Monday said administrator Stacie Currie. She said staff weren’t required to get vaccinated, but most of the residents were going to get it.

“Most are excited to get it,” she said.

Like the Veterans’ Home, Timber Creek has been on lockdown since the pandemic started. It has had no cases in residents, to date.

Currently, Montana has launched Phase 1a that targets frontline healthcare workers and staff and residents of longterm care facilities. So far, a total of 16,990 healthcare personnel in Montana have now received their first vaccination dose — this phase is now being expanded to include additional healthcare workers with direct patient contact, such as dentists, orthodontists, physical therapists, optometrists, home health workers and others that fit the criteria. 

The vaccination plan notes that Phase 1b will begin in mid-January and continue through March. Phase 1b includes an estimated 90,000 Montanans, such as 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 is expected to launch in mid-March and continue through July and includes another 171,000 Montanans. Critical groups in Phase 1c are those aged 65 years and older, person aged 16-64 at high risk due to underlying medical conditions, and essential workers.

The final phase is expected to launch in late spring or early summer for all Montanans ages 16 and older.

The phases are contingent on the vaccine being available.