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Directive aims to help Montana pharmacies administer COVID-19 vaccines

COVID Vaccine
Posted at 4:00 PM, Mar 30, 2021
and last updated 2021-03-30 18:06:31-04

HELENA — On Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte issued a directive aimed at helping Montana pharmacies more efficiently provide COVID-19 vaccine doses.

The directive authorizes pharmacists to use any health care provider, who is licensed by Montana or another state and who is qualified to administer vaccines under his or her scope of practice, to assist in the administration of COVID vaccines for the duration of the state of emergency.

“As we expand vaccine eligibility to all Montanans on April 1, we’re focused on reducing barriers Montanans face to get the vaccine and increasing access to it,” Gianforte said. “To that end, the directive I issued today will make it easier for pharmacies to efficiently administer doses to more Montanans.”

The directive also temporarily waives a restriction on the number of pharmacy technicians a registered pharmacist may supervise for the purpose of administering the COVID vaccine and conducting associated administrative duties and procedures.

As of Tuesday, March 30, Montana had administered 476,912 COVID vaccine doses. An estimated 186,542 people in the state are now considered fully vaccinated (roughly 17 percent of the state’s population).

People can find pharmacies that are offering COVID-19 vaccines by clicking here.