News & Stories for Oregonians
Because some people with COVID-19 can have very mild symptoms, some may see natural infection as preferable to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The fact is that natural immunity or protection from COVID-19 is not preferable to getting vaccinated. While it’s true that having COVID-19 may create some protection, known as natural immunity, to COVID-19, at […]
This article is an extended version of a story that originally aired in the May 3, 2021 issue of Oregon Coronavirus Update. We’ve noticed that there’s been some confusion online about whether an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is the same as approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Let’s get into it and start […]
We’ve seen some talk online about COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases. While these cases are rare, we’ll use this blog post to break down what a breakthrough case is, why they occur and how state and nationwide health authorities are responding. COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough cases are defined as instances in which an […]
On April 24, the Oregon Health Authority announced that Oregon health care providers and pharmacies could resume administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine throughout Oregon. This announcement came a day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the pause that had been placed on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine since April 13. The FDA and the Centers […]
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is working to make sure that communities who are significantly impacted by COVID-19 have easy access to vaccine information. OHA’s Safe + Strong campaign has developed several short, animated videos to answer some of the key questions that communities have about vaccination: Are the vaccines safe? Are they free? Do I need insurance? The videos, called “Vaccine Answers,” include one 60-second video that addresses all the […]
While any new treatment can seem scary, the data that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collect through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) continue to confirm that the vaccines are both safe and effective. VAERS is a national vaccine safety monitoring system overseen by the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It serves as a place for doctors, nurses, vaccine manufacturers and […]
“Do you have your mask?” All over Oregon there are people asking this like it’s a mantra every time someone they live with leaves the house. We walk down the street and step out of the way if we see someone coming, and we wait patiently to grab our box of tea off the shelf […]
Oregon continues to pass other states in the percentage of older adults who have been vaccinated. As of April 2, 70% of all Oregon seniors have been vaccinated. But, the pace of vaccinations among seniors has slowed because demand for vaccines among older people is down. Some are choosing to wait before getting vaccinated. Here […]
It’s spring, which means the days are getting lighter, flowers are starting to bloom, and people in Oregon are heading outside. This year, also, hope is in the air with more people in Oregon getting vaccinated. This is also a time when many celebrate springtime holidays. If you are fully vaccinated and plan on gathering, remember […]
Mary Richardson, a retiree from Portland, is a cancer survivor who lives in a multigenerational household and recently received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. She shares her vaccination story: I am a four-time cancer survivor. I had surgery in October and started chemotherapy in January. Knowing I am immunocompromised during a pandemic is beyond scary. […]
