Updated Missoula COVID-19 Vaccine Phases and Related Jobs Available

As of December, the COVID-19 vaccine is here in Montana and being distributed, but when will you be able to get yours? The Missoula County Health Department and Ravalli County Health Department are both being absolutely slammed with calls from residents seeking the vaccine and information on why they aren't first on the list. So I thought we'd share the updated vaccine phases with you so you don't have to call the health department.

All of this info is current as of January 5, 2021, and Missoula is currently in Phase 1A, meaning the following people and groups are eligible for vaccination.

Phase 1A

-Frontline healthcare workers
-Residents and staff of long term health care facilities
-Healthcare workers with direct patient contact, including, but not limited to: dentists, orthodontists, physical therapists, optometrists, home health care workers, etc.

Phase 1B

American Indians and other people of color who may be at an elevated risk.
Anybody 70 and older.
Ages 16-69 with qualifying health conditions.
Case by case basis as determined by individual medical providers.

Phase 1C

Frontline essential workers, which may include, but is not limited to, firefighters, corrections officers, teachers, food & ag workers, utility and transportation workers, etc.
Those in congregate care or correctional facilities.
Anybody aged 60 and older.
Ages 16-59 with medical conditions that may have an elevated risk for COVID-19

The Final Phase is all Montanans 16 years and older. Naturally, this plan is based on vaccine availability.

It is estimated that vaccines won't be available to the general public until late spring or early summer of 2021. Once they are available, getting your COVID-19 vaccine will be similar to how you get your flu vaccine. Rather than having mass clinics for a large amount of people, state-approved healthcare providers will dispense the vaccine to each population type outlined for each phase of vaccine distribution.

Wanna help? I'm hearing that some COVID-19 workers in Missoula are making around $20 per hour just for making phone calls and keeping track of numbers. Here is a full list of COVID-19 short term job opportunities, some are full time, some are part time, with various hours.