KATHERYN HOUGHTON
Kaiser Health News
MISSOULA â Montanaâs COVID-19 vaccine distribution is among the most efficient in the nation, but closer examination reveals a patchwork of systems among counties and tribal governments that will be put to the test as the state opens vaccine eligibility to all people 16 and older starting this month.
KHN, Montana Free Press and the University of Montana School of Journalism surveyed all 56 counties and eight tribal governments to find out how vaccine distribution has worked over the past four months and what residents might expect when the floodgates open.
Montanaâs rate of COVID-19 vaccines given is in the top tier in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 191,500 people â roughly 18% of the stateâs population â had been fully vaccinated by the end of March. But that progress papers over a disjointed rollout thatâs been left to individual public health departments that are already overstretched.