News : Oregon Health News Blog

Study shows ‘these vaccines will keep people out of the hospital’

Posted on March 30, 2021December 9, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On March 29, the Washington Post wrote about an exciting study that Oregon participated in that shows the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines in real life circumstances. Dr. Paul Cieslak, a senior health advisor with OHA, says, “This study demonstrated that in real-world use, the mRNA vaccines are marvelously effective – 90% – in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as COVID-19 illness in frontline workers. These vaccines will keep […]

Things to know for the week of March 29: Vaccine eligibility expands to Group 6

Posted on March 30, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

Having different types of vaccines can offer more options and flexibility for the public, jurisdictions and vaccine providers. For example, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is easier to store and only requires one dose, which can make it useful for people who may have a difficult time returning for a second dose. Since supply is still limited, getting vaccinated with the first vaccine available […]

Oregon accelerates its vaccination timeline

Posted on March 26, 2021March 31, 2021 by oregongov

Today OHA announced that Oregon’s vaccine eligibility timeline is being moved up. On April 5, Group 7 will be eligible for vaccination. That includes frontline workers, people ages 16 to 44 with underlying conditions and people living in multigenerational homes. (See the linked infographic for definitions of frontline workers and underlying conditions.) In more good news, the general population […]

People 45-64 with underlying conditions eligible for vaccination by next week

Posted on March 25, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

As you know, Oregon is doing vaccinations in phases. Many new groups of people become eligible no later than March 29. One of these groups is people aged 45-64 who have one or more of the underlying health conditions listed on the graphic below. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with these conditions […]

1 million Oregonians vaccinated so far

Posted on March 24, 2021December 10, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

Good news: More than 1 million Oregonians have now gotten at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the Oregon Health Authority announced on March 24. Eligible residents in every county have been vaccinated, as Oregon continues to make steady progress in ensuring all Oregonians who wish to be vaccinated have that opportunity. Here are some […]

OHA receives authorization to expand number of COVID-19 vaccinators

Posted on March 23, 2021March 24, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

The Oregon Health Authority has expanded who can administer COVID-19 vaccines, as permitted under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. The federal PREP Act amended declaration, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, increases the pool of vaccinators who may not be currently authorized to vaccinate under state law. […]

Counties approved to expand vaccinations

Posted on March 23, 2021March 24, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

On March 22, the Oregon Health Authority began announcing the names of the counties that had submitted attestation letters signaling their intention to immediately offer COVID-19 vaccinations to expanded eligibility groups. 21 counties have submitted such letters to date. The counties are: Baker, Benton, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, […]

Welcome news on vaccine eligibility: What you need to know

Posted on March 19, 2021December 10, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

Today, we are excited to announce changes to Oregon’s vaccine eligibility schedule based on new information about increased allocation from the federal government. As of now, about 58 percent of Oregonians age 65 and older have been vaccinated. We are on a trajectory to vaccinate more than seven out of 10 by March 29, which […]

Dance company pivots to providing COVID-19 resources

Posted on March 18, 2021March 24, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

Luisa Zaragoza is the artistic and managing director at Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre in Medford. A project that started as a high school club in the ’90s has grown into a dance academy for children and youth in the Medford area. Luisa, originally from Mexico, takes great pride in providing opportunities for cultural movement and […]

New guidance for the ‘fully vaccinated’

Posted on March 16, 2021March 24, 2021 by ohacovidblogger

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has new guidance for people who are fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated: Two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like the Johnson & Johnson vaccine In non-healthcare settings, there are some things you can do if you are fully vaccinated: Visit with […]