Oregon will expand its ever-growing line for the COVID-19 vaccine to include relatives of grocery stores, transportation operators and other front-line workers.
Government officials Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority also said Friday the state will open the floodgates for the appointment of vaccines for those 16 and older who have an extensive list of underlying health conditions, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – including current and former smokers, people who are simply overweight and not obese, type 1 diabetics, people with high blood pressure and many other conditions.
The state has admitted that it does not know how many non-vaccinated people are in this extensive pool, nor that it estimates how many people identify themselves as frontline workers or are in those households. Some people may have been vaccinated due to other qualifying factors.
As of Friday, 28% of all Oregonians had received at least one dose of vaccine, slightly below the national average. Oregon has completely vaccinated 17% of its more than 4 million people, slightly above the national average.
The expansion of qualifying health conditions “protects communities at greatest risk,” the state’s top health official said, pointing out that coloreds have certain health conditions that increase the likelihood of adverse health outcomes if they contract the virus.
Brown said it is important to expand the vaccine line to bring in families of frontline workers, as transportation is often a barrier to access to vaccines. “If you’re a front-line worker making an effort, bring your family members along and do it all,” she said.
Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said frontline workers are disproportionate people of color and that their families are also at greater risk because of the closeness of their loved ones.
“The short-circuit of family transfers protects loved ones from vulnerable front-line workers and again helps prevent the virus from being transmitted in the workplace against front-line workers exposed at home,” Allen told a news conference Friday.
The extended suitability comes as the state approaches what Brown noticed as the “fourth surge of the virus” in front of our door.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is the extensive list of qualifying health conditions?
Here is what the state posted Friday:
– Cancer
– Chronic kidney disease
– Chronic lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma (moderate to severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension
– Dementia or other neurological conditions
– Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
– Down syndrome
– Heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy or hypertension
– HIV infection
– Immuno-compromised state (weakened immune system)
– Liver disease
– Overweight and obesity (defined as body mass index, or BMI, greater than 25 kg / m2)
– Pregnancy
– Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
– Smoking, current or former
– Fixed organ or blood stem cell transplant
– Stroke or cerebrovascular disease
– Drug use disorder
Who is a front worker?
The state’s qualifications use the CDC’s guidelines, which include grocery stores and retail workers, community universities and university staff, the US Postal Service, transit workers, news media, legal officials, elected officials and government workers, food service workers and many more. Here is the complete list.
I know people who work in retail, who already get a chance in Oregon. Do some provinces vaccinate all those workers?
Yes. Twenty-three of the 36 counties in Oregon are already vaccinating frontline workers and people aged 16 to 44 with certain health conditions (Baker, Benton, Coos, Clatsop, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union and Wheeler from Friday). From April 5, the remaining 13 provinces, including the three-province area, will begin planning for frontline workers eligible for their shots. People 45 years and older with qualifying conditions are already eligible.
I have type 1 diabetes and I am 42 years old and I live in Lane County. What is my situation?
You will be able to get a vaccine appointment immediately, as you are a member of group 7 in the state vaccination plan, which includes frontline workers and those aged 16 to 44 with underlying conditions already present in the provinces above. is listed. . The newly expanded underlying conditions outlined Friday contain type 1 diabetes, so make a schedule.
What about me? I’m in the same boat as the person above, but I live in Washington County.
You are eligible for April 5 when your province plans to move on to younger people with underlying conditions and frontline workers.
Wait, if it’s important to stop the transmission, can I not get my vaccine? I am healthy, but living with a person with the underlying health conditions? Can I get my chance now?
No, you can not. The state did not explain why the family members would not be eligible, while acknowledging the transfer of family is the main source of distribution. During the news conference, Brown was asked why this is not possible for all residents, which she says is a good question. She said the focus remains on those at high risk, which is a great way to target those who are front-line workers. She also noted that Oregon does not get enough vaccine per capita, a factor emphasized by The Oregonian / OregonLive Friday. “We will move heaven and earth to make sure we get a fair share,” Brown said, adding that the state has a good relationship with the Biden government.
What does this mean for all Oregonians? I’m healthy, I have none of these conditions, but I still want my vaccine.
Patrick Allen said despite some uncertainty about the upcoming distribution of vaccines due to “disruption” with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pipeline, the state still intends to give provinces the option to continue by April 26. the vaccination of all adults 16 and older. Oregon remains committed to its timeline where all Oregonians across the country are eligible for a vaccine appointment by May 1st.
Does this mean that we have so far done very well in vaccinating everyone?
Not necessarily. In particular, Oregon is particularly concerned about vaccination rates in some rural provinces. Although the state rate is only 65% for vaccination of 65 and older, it is significantly lower in several countries. Allen said seven counties – Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Lake, Malheur, Morrow and Umatilla – have vaccinated less than half of their senior population.
I’m 17 and my mom works for TriMet. How do I plan my appointment?
State leaders were a bit vague about the details, only noting that “several appointments can be scheduled” via the Get Vaccinated Oregon portal in the state. Allen said family members should submit their information to the state’s database, where residents are contacted when they are eligible.
The Oregon health authorities said the update to the getvaccinatedoregon.gov website was in place for the transition, although it was not immediately clear when the changes would take place.
Oregonians can also schedule appointments through pharmacies and local health care facilities in many provinces. Here is the website with more information.
– Andrew Theen; [email protected]; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen