HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Hospitals in Billing and Bozeman were among the first in Montana to receive shipments on Monday of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Several other health care facilities in the state reported that they expected to receive the first doses of the vaccine later in the week.

Six health care providers in Bozeman became some of the first vaccine recipients in the state Monday afternoon. The group included registered nurses and physicians in the hospital's intensive care unit, emergency department, and respiratory therapy department.

Bozeman Health convened a vaccine task force to determine who would be the first health care providers to receive the vaccine. Those who are in close daily contact with positive COVID-19 cases are first in line for the vaccine, in addition to health care workers that provide specialized services.

It will take around a week to administer the first 975 doses of the vaccine delivered to Bozeman Health, according to Kallie Kujawa, the hospital's incident command leader. No health care providers in the hospital have refused the vaccine so far, she said.

Bozeman Health chief physician officer Dr. Mark Williams called it “a real day of celebration” but cautioned that other public health measures, including social distancing and wearing face coverings, must be followed.

Ten health care facilities in Montana’s seven largest communities are set to receive this week a total of 9,750 doses of the vaccine produced by drug company Pfizer. All doses will go to health care staff.