News & Stories for Oregonians
Every day, more Oregonians are becoming eligible for vaccination and finishing their vaccine series. If you’re one of them, you probably already know that until enough people get vaccinated, we’re all going to need to continue to wear face coverings, limit group size, physically distance, wash our hands and stay home when we’re sick — even when fully vaccinated. So, what do you say to friends and family […]
Antwon Chavis, a pediatrician with OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, shares: “I got vaccinated against COVID-19 because the evidence looked promising that it could help bring an end to the pandemic. Also, the African American community has been disproportionately affected by coronavirus, and I know I am more likely to have a negative outcome than many […]
Some people in Oregon are hesitant to receive the new COVID-19 vaccines. Some don’t want to be “first in line” to receive a new vaccine and may be concerned about long-term side effects. These are good questions and concerns. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t safe. The […]
As of yesterday, it’s been one year since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in Oregon. Twelve grim months later, nothing is the same. The pandemic has claimed more than half a million lives in the United States. More than 2,200 Oregonians have died with the coronavirus. All of us have felt their loss. All […]
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) announced on Dec. 28, 2020 that residents and staff at its Oregon Veterans’ Homes in Lebanon and The Dalles received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Consonus Healthcare over the weekend. Vaccinations were made available to all staff and residents. The vaccine has been proclaimed […]
Oregon Health Authority’s EMS Medical Director, Dr. David Lehrfeld, received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in December. Dr. Lehrfeld was a participant in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trials but found out afterward he was part of the group that received a placebo. “Having been part of this study, and having reviewed the available data, […]
Anna Antonopulos, a pediatric hospitalist in Medford, shares her vaccination story: “I got my COVID-19 vaccine to protect my patients, my friends, my family and myself. I have dedicated my life to helping others around me, whether that is treating patients in the hospital, teaching Sunday school at church, being a super aunt to my […]
You may wonder whether you still need to quarantine when you have been exposed to COVID-19 if you have received your vaccination. In January, OHA updated its COVID-19 Investigative Guidelines to address this question. If you have been fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and it’s been at least 14 days since your final dose, you are no longer required to quarantine if you have had […]
It’s not unusual to be concerned about side effects of a vaccine, especially a new one. But don’t forget: Side effects after COVID-19 vaccination “are normal signs that your body is building protection,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We talked with some Oregon medical professionals about their vaccination experiences. “I got my [second] shot at about 2 p.m., and at about […]
