Montana hit harder by COVID but able to vaccinated faster than northern neighbours
By Medicine Hat News on February 10, 2021.
Montana, which compared to Alberta has recorded four times as many COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita, has now vaccinated four times more people in a similar comparison. State public health officials said Tuesday that 144,300 doses had been administered to the state’s 1 million residents, and 39,800 people are now considered fully immunized. The vaccination program in Alberta had distributed 120,400 doses to 4.4 million residents as of Feb. 7, with 29,900 Albertans receiving a second dose. The vaccine rollout in both countries has been a source of controversy. A new U.S. Federal administration is now instituting a new program. In Canada, the federal vaccination procurement program has drawn fire from provincial leaders, who say delays in deliveries are hampering their efforts. Across Montana, 96,000 total cases have been diagnosed since last March, leading to 1,315 deaths as of Tuesday morning. Fatalities in Alberta total 1,710 on Feb. 7, among 127,000 total diagnosed cases. Closest to southeast Alberta, Hill County, Mont., which includes Havre, 2,800 doses have been administered to 16,000 residents. Fatalities there number 39 among 1,850 total cases, including 29 active cases. In Medicine Hat, 12 deaths have been recorded among 534 total cases, 14 of which are active. Alberta does not release vaccination numbers by municipality. 11-10
