Yellowstone County, Montana – Since July 1, the number of COVID-19 deaths in Yellowstone County has climbed to eight, according to RiverStone Health. The latest death increases the total number of county residents killed by the pandemic to 283 since April 2020, with 72 deaths since January 1, 2021.
A man in his 80s died at a Billings hospital on Saturday, July 17. He was fully immunized against COVID-19 and has underlying medical issues.
The death of this completely vaccinated neighbor serves as a heartbreaking reminder that COVID-19 vaccinations aren’t 100% effective for everyone.
According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, 94 percent of Montanans hospitalized with COVID-19-related illness since April were unvaccinated. The few COVID-19 hospital patients who had been vaccinated also had underlying health problems that put them at high risk of severe or fatal illness from the virus.
Getting vaccinated protects ourselves and others around us who may have a weaker reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination due to their medical conditions. Most local pharmacies, as well as pediatric clinics and other primary care clinics, provide free vaccinations to anybody aged 12 and above.
The following RiverStone Health COVID-19 vaccination clinics are free and open to the public:
· Monday, 4 – 6 p.m., Lockwood Middle School, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
· Tuesday, noon – 2 p.m., Falcon Center, 302 Sioux Lane, Pfizer and J&J.
· July 30, 8 a.m. – noon, RiverStone Health Walk-in, Lil Anderson Center (four-story building), Pfizer and J&J.
