The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe is providing a COVID-19 vaccination update.
CSKT Tribal Health has begun to vaccinate Tribal Elders over the age of 70, according to Community Health Division Director Chelsea Kleinmeyer.
CSKT health officials also report they are identifying and calling the group of patients to schedule vaccinations as more doses become available as they move in Phase 1B of the state vaccination plan.
January 15 - March 15 (Phase 1B)
- Persons aged 70 years and older
- American Indians and other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications
- Persons aged 16-69 with high-risk medical conditions. Qualifying medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Down Syndrome
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, 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.
COVID-19 vaccines are not currently being offered to the general public. However, Tribal Health is identifying patients in the prioritized groups and will contact people who are eligible to get the vaccination.
Tribal Health notes they will contact you people in prioritized groups for COVID vaccinations. People are asked not to call Tribal Health Pharmacy or Medical to ask about vaccinations.
As the vaccine becomes more available to the larger community, Tribal Health will continue to notify the public about who is eligible and how to register for an appointment to get the COVID vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccines will require two doses. Depending on which one is given, people will need to schedule coming back to their health care provider to receive the second shot 21 or 28 days apart.
A draft of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan can be found here. For more information, please visit the Tribal Health website here.
