COVID-19 Vaccine Information
On August 23, 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was granted full approval for the first two doses in people 16 and older by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has gone through rigorous, thorough and comprehensive testing and review to earn this approval. The vaccines are a safe, effective and important tool in helping us through this pandemic, and help us to protect ourselves and others. They help prevent infection and the spread of the illness. If breakthrough infection occurs, they can lessen how contagious a person is and greatly reduce the severity symptoms and the chance of hospitalization related to COVID.
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
Billings Clinic fully supports the use of the new COVID-19 vaccine and its role in protecting us from illness and helping to end the ongoing pandemic. We know there are plenty of questions about the vaccine and have put together the following FAQ to help.
Read the FAQ
- Vaccine availability – Billings Clinic continues to offer the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at SameDay Care Downtown and the Heights clinic. Pediatrics is also offering the Pfizer vaccine for youth ages 12 and older.
- Youth vaccinations – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age 12 and older, opening up its use for more youth. Vaccinations for this age group began in Yellowstone County on Thursday, May 13, at a community vaccine clinic at the shrine auditorium.
- Community vaccine clinics – The final centralized community vaccine clinic was held on Thursday, May 13. Additional vaccine opportunities are being scheduled throughout the community and you can find more information here. For information on appointments at local pharmacies and other locations, visit www.vaccinefinder.org. Additionally, Billings Clinic looking at other opportunities to provide the vaccine and we will announce plans as they are finalized.
The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and important tool in bringing this pandemic to an end, and Billings Clinic encourages people to receive it when they are eligible. We are following state and federal guidance in distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in conjunction with The Unified Health Command (UHC), made up of Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare, RiverStone Health and Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services.
Vaccine History
It might seem like the COVID-19 vaccine was developed and rolled out quickly, but it's actually the result of decades of work that was underway long before COVID-19. Much of the work was already done, which was applied to the development of the safe and effective vaccines we have today.
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