Providers: those over 65 should schedule vaccine appointment

Enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers are encouraging those 65 and older to schedule their vaccine appointment.

According to the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare there are about 51,000 individuals in the Panhandle Health District who are age 65 and over and 47% have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

“We and other enrolled providers have seen a considerable slowdown of appointments being scheduled by the currently eligible groups,” said Don Duffy, PHD clinical services administrator. “This indicates to us that we need to move forward to the next phase of eligible groups."

Effective immediately, appointments at PHD vaccine clinics will be available to all of phase 1 and 2 groups.

To schedule a vaccination appointment at one of PHD’s vaccine clinics, visit www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/vaccine/ and click the link to schedule an appointment at the clinic nearest you. For those without internet access or anyone having trouble navigating the online scheduling, please call PHD’s COVID-19 hotline for assistance, 877-415-5225. PHD has vaccine clinics in Kootenai, Benewah, Boundary, and Shoshone counties. A Bonner vaccine clinic will be added later this month.

Appointments for PHD clinics will be released every Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Gov. Brad Little announced Tuesday the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $39 million to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts throughout the state.

These funds would not be available to Idaho without Gov. Little's active emergency declaration.

“We are in the final lap of the pandemic fight, and the finish line is close,” Little said. “Idaho’s active COVID-19 emergency declaration was critical for Idaho to receive this federal assistance for vaccination centers."