FMC vaccinations fighting against COVID spread in region
Carrie Haar, FNP-C and Sue Lunde, DON.
By Brad Mosher
bmosher@countrymedia.net
The Fallon Medical Complex has already put more than 300 COVID-19 vaccines in the arms of Fallon County and Carter County residents in the battle against the global pandemic. The Moderna vaccine is being used, which requires a second dose 28 days after the first, explained Sue Lunde, the director of Nursing at FMC. “We are doing it on our own and that includes the (Phase) 1A which was all the long-term care
residents, healthcare workers, EMS workers and caretakers. We were the only ones giving the vaccines at that time. The 1A has had both of those vaccines. “We’ve moved into (Phase) 1B as well,” explained Lunde. “About half – 150 – were 1A and includes their two vaccines.” The staff at FMC is currently working on the second (Phase 1A) vaccine as well, she said, noting that some residents of Carter County were also coming to Baker to be vaccinated. “Some of their doctors are our doctors too.” Signing up People can sign up to be on the list for vaccinations. “We are having people call and we are putting their names on a list.” According to Lunde, each vial of vaccines has ten doses. “Once we open that vial and start taking the vaccine out. We will have only six hours to use it up or we have to waste it. So what we are doing is having people call in and put their names on the list and as soon as we have enough names on the list so we won’t have to waste any vaccine we call and set up a day for them to come in.” Normally, the people are scheduled to come in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The people wanting to have their name put on the list for vaccinations can call either Judy McWilliams (406-778-5447) or Sue Lunde (406778-5385), she said. Once people receive the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. They are scheduled to receive the second dose 28 days later. The FMC puts in a request to the state for the Moderna vaccine on a weekly basis, Lunde explained. “They send out 100 doses at a time. So far, we have gotten everything that we have requested (from the state). We have been getting about 100 vaccines every week or two. We have used those all up,” she said. However, Lunde said they were
expecting another delivery from the state. “We’ll set up for more clinics at the end of the week or for next week. Once we get caught up with the ones with the chronic conditions and the ones that doctors are referring to us or the ones calling in and getting on the list … we haven’t had to advertise. “We have lists that are long enough that we can hopefully keep getting vaccines out to the public,” she said. Big response Overall, the director of nursing said that she has seen a large response to the vaccines by the public. “It has been more than I expected at this point in time. It has been very positive and more and more people are coming in.” In addition to giving out the vaccine, Lunde said they also spend some time with the people on the lists. “I do education with everybody before they get their first vaccine. I get their consent. I tell them what it (the vaccine) is, how it was made and what to expect,” she explained. The vaccinations are done in a large meeting room. “We can do them in groups at a time,” she said. There are no charges for the vaccines, Lunde said. Once the people get the first vaccinations, they will be given a card to carry showing proof. “We put on their what vaccine they got... the number and when they need to come back. (When done) both of those dates and vaccines will be on that card. That card they will have to keep. Pretty soon you are going to need that card in order to travel … to get on an airplane and to prove they have had the COVID vaccine. “Right now, it is not mandated, but in the near future you are going to have to prove it in order to travel across state lines...” The current list of people waiting for the vaccine
is more than enough to account for all the doses in the next shipment from the state, she said. “We will give everybody on the list and we will give them a couple of dates to choose from to come in,” she said, once the shipment arrives. “Right now we are so lucky here in Fallon County. We have had zero cases for more than three weeks. If can get this vaccine out as fast as we can, we’ll be sitting pretty good as far as getting immunity for this virus. “The response has been so positive. It has been awesome,” she added. No influenza yet One interesting byproduct of the battle against COVID-19 has been its impact on influenza in the region, according to Lunde. “So far, we have not had a positive test for influenza yet. We are testing for the influenza when we test for COVID and we have had no positive test yet,” she said. She credited the use of masks locally for the drop in influenza. “We definitely still need to do social distancing and masks. They say that two weeks after the first (COVID) vaccine you will have about a 50 percent immunity. Two weeks after the second vaccine you’ll have up to about a 95 percent immunity to the COVID virus.” In addition, the people need to get vaccinations in order to get ahead of the spread of the new mutations which have already been found in several states, she said. “The vaccines are still working against that (mutated) virus as well. We just need to get it out to the people to get their immunity built up before it reaches our area,” Lunde explained. “We have none in our area at all.” The new virus variations are reportedly more virulent, spread faster and show symptoms faster, she added.
Local health department starting Phase 1B vaccine program Staff Report
The number of cases of COVID-19 in southeast Montana has dropped sharply in recent weeks with the Fallon County Health Department moving into the next phase of administering the Moderna vaccine. Even though a new Public Health Director has not been hired, the department will also be co-coordinating with Carter County for vaccinations. The department has announced the beginning of Phase 1B of administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
“If you are 70+, 18-69 with qualifying medical conditions, or American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications, and would like to receive the vaccine please call 460-778-2824 to be added to our list,” the department posted on its Facebook site recently. The department said the qualifying medical conditions for Phase 1B include: Cancer, Chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down Syndrome, Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery dis-
ease, or cardiomyopathies, Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), Sickle cell disease, Type 1 & 2 Diabetes mellitus. 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.” Since Dec. 31 the department announced that online updates will continue to be posted on Facebook, but not on a regular basis. Messages and questions will not be monitored regularly until the Fallon County Health Department
hires a new director, the Facebook post explained. In its latest post Jan. 21, the department announced that Fallon County had dropped down to zero current cases. “We are at 0 cases in Fallon County. Due to time constraints, because of coordinating COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Fallon and Carter County, we will only be updating our Facebook page when there are changes to the number of active cases or other information that needs to be put out to the public. Thank you all for you understanding,” the post explained.
March for Life draws people from North Dakota, Montana to support beliefs
Even 20-degree temperatures did not keep about 20 people from participating in the annual March for Life Friday in downtown Baker. It also drew a number of people from Bowman County for the event. PHOTO/Brad Mosher
By Brad Mosher
bmosher@countrymedia.net
It was a statement of life and passion for more than 30 people to brave sub-freezing
temperatures Friday in Baker and walk about one mile to St. John’s Catholic Church from its downtown start next to the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad crossing. Bundled against the cold, they marched
along Main Street and Highway 7 until the group turned west and climbed the hill past Longfellow School to the church. Fr. Paul Eberle of the St. Charles Catholic Church was there with people from the Bowman County communities of Rhame, Bowman and Marmarth. “Father Philip, who is the priest here (in Baker) is back home in India. So he wasn’t here today. “This is the 20th year they have been doing it (the March for Life) here,” he added. The march is generally held around the anniversary of the Roe versus Wade decision made by the United States Supreme Court in 1973, he added. “It is a day of prayer for the protection of the unborn on Jan. 22 every year,” he added, noting that many of the parishioners from North Dakota come over to Baker each year to participate. “Some will go to Dickinson because Dickinson has one tonight (Friday). There will be a service and a vigil,” he said. The march started about 11 a.m. and ended when they arrived at the church about 20 minutes later, pausing momentarily on the
See MARCH FOR LIFE Page 2
Work continues on upper reservoir Submitted by Mary Grube, planning
Fallon County is currently working on the upper reservoir to meet the Conditions of mitigation surrounding the five-year inspection from NRCS. Part of the conditions includes a barb wired fence across the berm to keep motorized vehicles from driving over the berm. The fence runs east on the berm and restricts motorized travel on the south side. A new fence was placed on the north side and also restricts motorized traffic. The public is welcome to continue to walk their dogs, as the road to the dam is open. Please refer to my Plan On It Article in this issue of the Fallon County Times for more information surrounding this. If you have any questions, please call Mary Grube at the Fallon County Planning Department at 406-778-8111.
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