COVID-19 Vaccine

General information regarding the available COVID-19 vaccines is presented in the slides below. For more information visit the CDC's website on the COVID-19 vaccine. This page was last updated on July 28, 2021. Use the grey arrows to the right and left of the content below to scroll to the next page.

Quick Facts

How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?  

  • The vaccine works with your immune system to teach it how to recognize and fend off the virus that causes COVID-19, safeguarding you from getting sick with COVID-19. As your body recognizes and defends you against the infection after the vaccine, you avoid the possibility of suffering from severe illness, long-term health effects, or even death. Receiving the vaccine can be lifesaving, since COVID-19 can affect you and those around you differently.

Just how safe is the COVID-19 vaccine? 

  • Very! Both of the available vaccines have gone through rigorous studies to ensure safety and efficacy. Neither vaccine contains the live virus that causes COVID-19 - this means that the vaccine can NOT and will NOT make you sick with COVID-19.
  • After you get the vaccine, it takes the body a few weeks to build protection against the virus. This means that a person could get sick just before or just after getting vaccinated. This is because the vaccine hasn't had enough time to teach the body to recognize and fend of the COVID-19 virus. 

The vaccine is an important tool to stop the pandemic.

  • Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. With the new variants, this is more urgent than ever.   
  • One fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic. However, to reduce the risk of being infected with COVID-19 variants or possibly spreading it to others, please adhere to CDC protocol.

What to do after you receive your COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Sign up for v-safe!
  • Through v-safe, you can use your smartphone to tell the CDC about any side effects you experience after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.  You'll also get reminders if you need a second vaccine dose.



Approved Vaccines

There are currently three approved vaccines in the U.S. Introductory information about each vaccine is presented below. Vaccine doses will be given to the American people at no cost. However, vaccination providers like pharmacies and clinics may be able to charge administration fees for administering the shots. These fees can be reimbursed by providers through a patient's public or private insurance company. In the case of uninsured patients, fees can be reimbursed by the Health Resources and Services Administration's Provider Relief Fund. 

Moderna

  • Requires 2 shots - 28 days apart - given in the upper arm
  • Determined to be 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection
  • Available for those 18 years of age and up

Pfizer-BioNTech

  • Requires 2 shots - 21 days apart - given in the upper arm
  • Determined to be 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection
  • Available for those 12 years of age and up 

Johnson & Johnson's Janssen

  • Requires 1 shot - given in the upper arm
  • Determined to be 66.3% effective in preventing COVID-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection
  • Available for those 18 years of age and up
Most Common Side Effects of the Vaccines
In the arm where the shot was givenThroughout the rest of the body
PainChills
SwellingTiredness
RednessHeadache

 

These side effects usually begin 2-3 days after vaccination and should go away after a few days.

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in Yellowstone County and Montana

 vaccine

50% of the eligible population in Yellowstone County has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

53% of the eligible population in Montana has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

Statistics provided by the Montana DPPHS

Local Free Vaccination Clinics

Local community partners are organizing FREE vaccination clinics on these dates:

July 30, 8 a.m. - noon, at Riverstone Health Walk-in, Lil Anderson Center (4 story building) - offers Pfizer and J&J vaccines

August 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., at Skypoint, Second Avenue North and Broadway during the Artwalk - offers Pfizer and J&J 

Do you need a ride?
Discounted or free rides to COVID-19 vaccinations are available through Lyft

Providers and Pharmacies with COVID-19 Vaccines

For more information about which vaccines are in stock and appointment information, please visit vaccines.gov.