Gov. Greg Gianforte recently announced that all eligible adults can now get the coronavirus vaccine starting April 1.

As such, the Flathead City-County Health Department recently announced it would expand its hours.

In partnership with Kalispell Regional Healthcare, the department will hold weekly vaccine clinics by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds starting Thursday. The clinics will vaccinate approximately 1,000 individuals each day. In addition, North Valley Hospital will host appointment- only clinics on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

at Grouse Mountain Conference Center in Whitefish.

The Flathead City-County Health Department encourages all interested and eligible individuals to add their name to the COVID-19 vaccination list by using the online vaccine request form at https://www.flatheadhealth. org/vaccine-request-form/.

Please note that due to high demand it may take several weeks for individuals to receive a vaccine appointment scheduling call.

Flathead County is currently receiving allocations of all three vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. However, due to varying vaccine supply, individuals who select a specific vaccine manufacturer on their submitted form may experience extended wait times before the specified vaccine becomes available.

To date, about 33,000 people have received the first dose of the vaccine in Flathead County, while about 13,200 are fully immunized. It’s one of the worst rates in the state.

Statewide, about 181,000 are fully immunized.