GALLATIN COUNTY — So many people are trying to figure out when their day to get the Covid-19 vaccine will come. Well, Friday was the day for 194 veterans in the Gallatin County area.
“I didn’t even notice it. She — I didn’t even feel it, of all things,” said World War II veteran Wayne Hill. Hill, a 97-year-old World War II veteran, was one of the 194 to receive their first dose of the vaccine and there’s only one thing he can think of likewise to going through this pandemic. “I grew up during the Great Depression and that was tough sledding, and let me tell you that was hard knocks,” he said.
Hill was selected and contacted over the phone about making an appointment to get his shot.
“We’re provided with a list of our older and more vulnerable veterans and we want to make sure that those that have those sort of needs are taken care of first,” said Pam Nichols with Veterans Affairs.
That list comes from the Bozeman VA location. But once the vaccine is readily available, veterans will be able to go to any VA locations in the state. “As the vaccine becomes available then we’ll schedule more clinics. That’s the long term goal,” Nichols said.
And for veterans not a part of this distribution, Nichols says to be patient - they will get to you. “They can be assured that they’re going to be called because we are moving down a list. That’s all our goal, to see all our veterans in our region vaccinated,” she said.
Hill was relieved to get his shot on Friday and he says he can’t understand why others would not.
“It boggles my mind. I get flu shots. I’ve gotten shingle shots. I got all kinds. Of course in the army they shot you like a pin cushion,” said Hill.
The VA will be back on Feb. 19 to administer the second round of doses.