The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) spends time every day making sure we share accurate and timely information in various ways including: our weekly media briefings, our website, social media, and answering questions directly from members of the public and the media.

The reality is that telling the truth saves lives. When Idahoans have access to accurate information, they can make informed decisions about their own health and the health of their families and communities. We continue to remain dedicated to keeping the people of Idaho safe through accurate information.

I would encourage you to use trusted sources for information when sharing COVID-related information. You can find the latest and most accurate information on COVID-19 at the following websites, as well as on the department’s social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter:

• Where and when to get your COVID-19 vaccination
• Idaho’s Coronavirus Website
• Idaho Rebounds Website
• One.Idaho.gov
• CDC Coronavirus Disease Website

Data Dashboards

The DHW data teams have worked diligently every day to make sure Idahoans have the data they need to make informed decisions during the past year. We have made some changes to how often the data on the dashboards will be updated to allow them to have weekends off. The new update schedule for the data dashboards is as follows:

• The vaccine data dashboard is now updated by 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
•  COVID-19 cases dashboard is updated by 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tuesday’s Media Briefing

If you missed the media briefing on Tuesday, you can always listen to the recordings of all of the media briefings. Starting April 6, we expanded the focus of the briefings to anything COVID-related specific to the pandemic work we do at DHW.

Encouraging all Idahoans to choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine

I am encouraging you to choose to get your COVID-19 vaccine. All Idahoans 16 and older are eligible to get the vaccine through enrolled vaccine providers in Idaho.

You can sign up today at covidvaccine.idaho.gov, and a vaccine provider will call you to schedule your appointment. Thanks to Idaho’s pre-registration system, you don’t have to make numerous calls or visit numerous locations to find an appointment to get your vaccine.

To date, 335,527 Idahoans (this includes those who work in Idaho) have been fully vaccinated. This number is those people who have received both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But it’s not enough to stop the spread of the disease, and we need your help. Every time the virus that causes COVID-19 moves to a new person is a time for that virus to mutate and possibly become more infectious or even deadlier. Please consider signing up to get your shot today.

If you have any questions about a specific COVID-19 vaccine, you can visit our FAQ page, which is updated weekly with accurate information, or talk with your doctor or pharmacist

If you want to get a COVID-19 vaccine, you can sign up today using the new pre-registration system. Getting the vaccine will help stop the spread of COVID-19 and is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.  

I hope you all have a safe and healthy weekend.