MISSOULA — Partnership Health Center (PHC) in Missoula received some pretty exciting news last week -- the federally qualified health center will soon receive a direct supply of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
This shipment, and future shipments, will be distributed in addition to the vaccine supply Missoula County is allotted.
Of the nearly 1,400 federally qualified health centers across the country, PHC is one of only 250 to receive this special shipment of vaccine from the federal government.
Health officials tell MTN News they could see the vaccine shipment as early as next week, and they’ll use their electronic medical record to determine who of their patients is the most vulnerable.
It should be noted that only current PHC patients receiving the vaccine from their facility. As we work towards herd immunization, this shipment of vaccines will impact far more than just those who receive it.
“What we're doing with these immunizations -- it has an almost immediate impact on the safety of our community. And it's basically just a network, the more people that are vaccinated, the safer we all are,” PHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Quirk explained.
“And I would love to make sure that Missoula is you know ahead of the curve in every way nationally, especially when we're trying to find vaccine for, you know, the most vulnerable among us,” Dr. Quirk added.
PHC says this special vaccine distribution wouldn’t be possible without state-level groups like DPHHS, the Governor’s Office, and the Montana Primary Care Association.