Currently, all COVID-19 vaccination appointment slots have been filled and we are not taking any new appointments at this time. Appointments are required and walk-ups will not be accepted. Please check this page routinely for ongoing updates.
What You Need to Know About the Vaccine
Scheduling for the Next Round of First-Dose Vaccines will Open on - TBD (scheduling link will become available on this page at that time)
Appointments will be available on the following dates: TBD
Scheduling Process and Eligibility
Benefis Health System, the Cascade City-County Health Department, Alluvion Health, and the Great Falls Clinic are partnering to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to community members age 70 and older along with those age 16-69 with underlying medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Who:
Montana’s 1B vaccination tier has been defined to include anyone who is age 70 or older or meets certain other health criteria. However, given that the number of Cascade County residents who fall into tier 1B currently exceeds vaccine supply, we are limiting vaccine administration to only those who are age 70 and older along with those age 16-69 with underlying medical conditions as defined in Phase 1B.
Phase 1B Qualifying Medical Conditions
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
- Immuno-compromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 1 & 2 Diabetes mellitus
- Asthma
- On a case by case basis, medical providers may include individuals with other conditions that place them at elevated risk for COVID-19 related complications.
How:
Appointment slots will be scheduled online and filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so community members who are eligible should go online to schedule as soon as possible to secure their slots. You will be required to provide a valid email address to book your appointment.
The vaccine consists of two doses. You will be scheduled for your second dose at the time your first dose is administered. Second doses will occur three to five weeks after first doses, so please anticipate your future availability when scheduling your first dose.
If you do not arrive as scheduled for either your first or second dose appointment, your appointment will not be automatically rescheduled.
You will not be permitted to schedule your second vaccine dose online yourself.
Where:
Vaccinations will take place at Montana ExpoPark's Family Living Center, 400 3rd St. NW in Great Falls. You must preschedule an appointment to receive the vaccine. If you do not have an appointment, you will be turned away.
You must present a valid form of identification at the scheduled time of your vaccine. If your identification indicates that you are not age 16 or older, you will be turned away even if you have an appointment.
Other Information:
We expect it to take several weeks to administer the first dose of the two-dose vaccine to everyone who falls into tier 1B. Future vaccination dates, times, and number of available slots will be published as they are available.
Community members vaccinated through this process will not get a choice regarding which brand of vaccine is administered.
FAQs
At this time, the government is covering the cost of the vaccine so there is no cost to the patient/recipient.
Studies have shown the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to be 95 and 94.1 percent effective, respectively.
Montana’s 1B vaccination tier has been defined to include anyone who is age 70 or older and people that meet certain other health criteria. However, given that the number of Cascade County residents who fall into tier 1B currently exceeds vaccine supply, we are limiting vaccine administration to only those who are age 70 and older along with those age 16-69 with underlying medical conditions as defined in Phase 1B.
No, proof of underlying conditions is not required. However, we ask that only those with a high-risk medical condition schedule an appointment to ensure those most at risk can receive the vaccine.
Extensive clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine. No serious safety concerns have been reported.
Let’s start with the similarities. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are made of laboratory manifested agent called mRNA that causes the body to make a substance to which your body’s immune system responds; both vaccines require two doses for the highest immunity; and both vaccines have proven to be extremely safe and effective in trials.
The main difference is that the Moderna vaccine requires 28 days between the two doses, while the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires 21 days between doses. In addition, the Moderna vaccine can be stored in normal freezers, unlike the Pfizer vaccine, making it more accessible outside of hospitals.
For more information from the FDA on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, click here.
For more information from the FDA on the Moderna vaccine, click here.
No. You should complete the series of vaccines with the same product.
If you have been positive for COVID-19 and/or are not currently in the isolation period, you may wait 90 days after infection to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC suggests reinfection is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection and thus persons with documented acute infection in the preceding 90 days may defer vaccination until the end of this period, if desired.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should be administered at least 14 days after any other vaccine, including the flu vaccine.
Because there is currently no cure for COVID-19, prevention is our best strategy. The development of COVID-19 vaccines is an important step in helping minimize the effects of this potentially deadly virus. Vaccines work by training your immune system to recognize and fight off the viruses and bacteria they target. By triggering an immune system response to a virus through a vaccine, your body is better equipped to destroy these disease-causing microbes in the future should you be exposed to COVID-19.
Yes. Although mask wearing and social distancing are important to limit exposure to COVID-19, the vaccine will help protect you from serious illness if you become infected. The combination of getting vaccinated and following guidelines, such as mask wearing and social distancing, offer the best protection for you and can help prevent spread to others.
No. Unlike traditional vaccines, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are messenger RNA vaccines – also called mRNA vaccines. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein – or even just a piece of a protein – that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us if the real virus enters our bodies.
Yes. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and the CDC recommends that everyone continues using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, such as covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, staying at least six feet away from others, following CDC travel guidance, following quarantine guidance after an exposure to someone with COVID-19, and following any applicable workplace or school guidance. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations on how to protect yourself and others, offers the best protection from getting and spreading COVID-19.
Experts need to understand more about the protection from being contagious that COVID-19 vaccines provide before deciding to change recommendations on steps everyone should take to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. We know it significantly reduces symptomatic and severe disease, but not whether it completely protects from infecting others. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.
If you aren’t feeling well, it is recommended that you wait until you’re feeling better to get the vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary. You’re encouraged to educate yourself so you can make an informed decision that is right for you.
The COVID-19 vaccine does not take the place of any other vaccination. In our current environment, it is extremely important to do as much as possible to stay healthy, including getting the flu vaccine and any others recommended by your healthcare provider to prevent the spread of illness.
It is unknown at this time how long immunity will last; ongoing studies will help determine if repeat vaccination is needed, and if it is, how often we may need a booster. Therefore, after vaccination you will still need to wear a mask and social distance until further notice. Factors such as how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities will help determine when we may be able to stop taking these extra precautions.
Side effects are a normal sign that your body is building protection. Some people may experience more symptoms with the COVID-19 vaccine compared to other vaccinations, such as the flu shot. The second or booster dose can produce symptoms more severe than experienced with the first dose. The most common side effect is muscle soreness or aching in the arm, which will resolve without treatment. Other common side effects after vaccination may include:
- Swelling or redness where the vaccine was administered
- Muscle and joint achiness elsewhere
- Low-grade fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Headache
These side effects are expected and not serious. They will resolve with time. If you are experiencing symptoms more serious than those described, or fever continues for more than two days, contact your doctor or seek care at the nearest emergency department. Make sure you notify the vaccine administrator of these symptoms prior to your second vaccine shot.
No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the U.S., including the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, use the live virus that causes COVID-19. After receiving the vaccine, you may experience symptoms such as arm pain, low-grade fever, chills or fatigue. This is normal and symptoms will resolve without treatment.