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HELENA – Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, said Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies after participating in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial. Daines’ announcement came as drug company Pfizer said its vaccine is 95% effective. The company plans to seek emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in the coming days. The senator and his wife were part of a group of over 100 Montana residents participating in the trial. “My goal is to help build confidence and trust for Montanans and the American people wondering if they should take the vaccine when it is approved. This

Montana’s Republican Senator Steve Daines has a unique perspective on one of the two COVID-19 vaccines that’s nearing the finish line. Daines was a participant in the vaccine trial for Pfizer’s formulation, which is one of two mRNA-based vaccines taking vaccination science where it hasn’t been before. Pfizer and Moderna have both announced that their vaccines are 94 to 95 percent effective. Each uses human genes to teach the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but they do it in a way that’s a markedly different process from previous vaccines. There’s no live, attenuated virus

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said Wednesday he has been part of Pfizer’s trial for a COVID-19 vaccine, saying he wanted to help build confidence and trust for Montanans and others wondering if they should take the vaccine when it is approved. Pfizer has announced their vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the spread of the respiratory illness. As of noon Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 11.3 million cases of COVID-19 in the United States and 247,834 deaths. Daines, R-Mont., said in a news conference that he received a call from his mother in August, saying Pfizer

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that his bipartisan Senate resolution recognizing the bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of wildland firefighters and first responders across Montana and the nation has passed the U.S. Senate. The resolution also honors those who have lost their lives this fire season, including Montanans Tom Duffy and Sara Madsen. “Montana’s wildland firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and families from devastating wildfires, and this was a devastating fire season,” Daines said. “I’m glad to see the Senate pass my resolution recognizing these Montana heroes and honoring

U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families now have free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other federal lands used for hunting and recreation, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced Tuesday. “With the utmost respect and gratitude, we are granting veterans and Gold Star families free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect starting this Veterans Day and every single day thereafter,” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said in a news release. Gold Star families are those whose relatives have died in a conflict while serving in the armed forces. Active-duty service members and their

Big news for Montana veterans. On November 10, Senator Daines’ bipartisan bill, the “Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act,” passed the U.S. Senate and is headed to the president’s desk to be signed into law. Daines’ bill promotes outdoor veteran recovery programs and helps expand outdoor recreational opportunities for veterans on public lands. “In Montana, we know how important our outdoor heritage is to our Montana way of life,” Daines said. “That’s why I’m glad to see the Senate pass my bipartisan bill to help ensure Montana veterans are able to take full advantage of our outdoors as they recover from