How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon
As of Feb. 8, everyone in Phase 1A and groups one and two of Phase 1B are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon. That includes:
- Health care workers and first responders
- Long-term care residents
- K-12 educators and school staff
- Childcare providers
- People 80 and older
Oregon introduced an online tool that allows eligible residents of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Marion and Columbia counties to sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The eligibility tool is open to everyone in Oregon to use and ask questions.
Another helpful resource is 211. People can call 211 and ask to be transferred to the reservation call center. Operators will determine eligibility, then book a time to receive the vaccination. People can also text ORCOVID to 898211 to get text/SMS updates or email ORCOVID@211info.org.
Four Oregonians tested positive for COVID after being fully vaccinated
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Friday announced that four Oregonians who have been fully vaccinated later tested positive for COVID-19. Two of the "breakthrough cases" are in Lane County and the other two are in Yamhill County, the OHA said. The four people tested positive at least 14 days after receiving their final dose of the vaccine. Their illnesses range from asymptomatic to mild symptoms.
Here's the plan for vaccine appointments in the Portland area after snow forces cancellations
The winter storm that hammered the Portland area Thursday and Friday also slammed shut COVID-19 vaccination efforts at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland International Airport and the Clark County Fairgrounds in Vancouver.
The Vancouver event is being rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. until noon. The other events will contact the 12,000 people who had vaccine appointments. Organizers will decide Saturday afternoon whether to close the vaccination clinic at the convention center on Sunday.
Some pharmacies push vaccination schedule to next week
Some local and regional pharmacies are delaying COVID-19 vaccinations a few days, but say it's the right move to make sure everything is scheduled smoothly.
This week the federal government sent out a million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 6,500 pharmacies nationwide. Albertsons, Safeway, Costco and Fred Meyer have online schedulers for appointments, but most have not had any openings.
Vaccine supply remains low. Many Oregon pharmacies are only receiving about a hundred doses in this first round.
Many health care workers turned down their COVID vaccine. Here's why
While thousands of people are still waiting to get the vaccine, there is a large group not getting it when offered. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 62% of nursing home workers across the country have not gotten the vaccine. The CDC looked at more than 11,000 senior living facilities that held one vaccination clinic between mid-December and mid-January. While 78% of residents got the shot, only 37.5% of staff members did.
Pharmacies use automated texts to reach those eligible for COVID vaccine
Local pharmacies have a lot of new work ahead of them as they join COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The federal government started shipping about a million doses to 6,500 pharmacies nationwide this week. Pharmacies in Oregon and SW Washington are included but have faced delays as they wait for doses to arrive. However, other medical groups across the country are using tools to get vaccinations scheduled.