by Janet Woodburn, CEO, Sapphire Community Health, and John Bishop, CEO, Bitterroot Health (MDMH)
Bitterroot Health and Sapphire Community Health care deeply about the health and well-being of Ravalli County citizens. As community health care providers, we routinely provide medical treatment and assistance to county citizens on a daily basis. However, the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout the population of the county is challenging our ability to provide the treatment and assistance that our community members need. Also of concern is that children are more vulnerable to this new variant.
Important information about the COVID-19 vaccine:
• It’s a safe and proven way to keep people healthy.
• It cuts down on the number of people requiring our services which in turn means more time for our patients’ other medical needs.
• It helps protects you from infecting your family and friends.
• Even if infected after vaccination, it significantly reduces the need for high level medical intervention such as hospitalization.
Being vaccinated is as much about protecting others as it is about protecting ourselves. For your family, friends, neighbors and the children of our community, please get vaccinated.
Here’s where you can get the COVID vaccine:
Ravalli County Public Health
406-375-6672
Appointment required
Sapphire Community Health
406-541-0954
Appointments required in the Health Center
Walk ins Tues 3-5, Mobile Unit at Victor School
Bitterroot Health (MDMH)
406-363-1100
Appointment required
Bitterroot Drug
406-363-3611
Walk ins welcome
Ravalli Family Medicine
406-363-5104
Appointment required
Walgreens
406-375-2264
Walk ins welcome
Timber Ridge Pharmacy
406-363-9003
Appointment required
Osco Pharmacy
406-363-7089
Walk ins welcome
Corvallis Drug
406-961-3221
Appointment required
Cynthia Taylor says
It’s a shame that those choosing not to get vaccinated, then test positive for the virus and show up at medical facilities, cannot be turned away since it was their choice not to get vaccinated. This would allow medical providers to care for those with other medical needs by no fault of their own, to be treated and not pushed aside to wait due to lack of staffing and beds dealing with unvaccinated individuals.
I appreciate and sympathize with the overwhelmed medical professionals and facilities who treat these individuals who chose not to get vaccinated. This must certainly be very frustrating for all of you and yet you professionally and kindly continue to treat those individuals as you would all others. Thank you for continuing to try and educate others with your recommendations.
There will always be “those” NOT in the medical field who believe they know otherwise and disregard your recommendations. Thankfully there are more people who pay attention and listen to your safety suggestions as we continue to fight this virus. Medical professionals have the knowledge unlike “those” others.
Gomez says
100% agree, and these are people whose minds won’t be changed using facts, logic and reason either, because they didn’t form their opinions on vaccines using facts, logic or reason. They saw a couple fb memes and filled their brains with mush served up to them by Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson and suddenly they all think they’re Louis Pasteur.
Dapper Dan says
Sounds like the opinion of someone in Germany in 1939
Jim Crews says
Prove to me it is safe. Where is your data and testing results.
Stephen Svelmoe says
You could try the Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System that scientists use to determine safety issues associated with vaccinations of any kind. You’ll find that there have been about 50 reports of adverse reactions to the COVID vaccine reported per million doses administered, 8 of which were deemed serious.