(Update: add video)
Unless the grant rises, it could take until early May to vaccinate all the elderly
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Governor Kate Brown has announced COVID-19 vaccine vaccination plans to expand the spread as frustration builds for 70-year-olds and parents who want to get vaccinated.
However, the Oregon Health Authority says the landscape will change dramatically, come March.
Brown said the next round of vaccinations would come in waves.
OHA, despite distribution efforts, says only 1 in 4 of Oregon’s seniors will be vaccinated, but OHA director Pat Allen says changes will come from Monday to increase the numbers.
“We will be eligible for vaccinations on Monday, March 1, for people 65 and older,” Allen said. “We expect to have enough vaccines awarded on March 29 to immunize at least 75% of all the elderly, which is weeks ahead of our original timeline.”
And as for Deschutes County, OHA has allocated 2,340 COVID-19 vaccines for the first dose next week – 800 less than this week, despite extensive admission to Oregonians 65 and older.
This week, the 3,140 first-dose vaccine appointments were filled in just two hours. Deschutes County said it will share information on the availability of appointments next week on Monday.
As of Monday, nearly 40,000 Deschutes County residents 65 years and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. To date, an estimated 15,000 provincial residents aged 65 and older have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccine.
If the weekly allocation does not increase, Deschutes County Health Services estimates it could take until early May to offer a first-dose appointment for all residents 65 and older.
“Unfortunately, due to limited vaccine supply, not everyone who is able to receive a vaccine can make an appointment this week,” said Dr. George Conway, director of health services in Deschutes County, said. “With the current awards, it could take a few weeks before everyone who qualifies can be involved.”
Governor Brown today announced the upcoming stages of vaccination for the vaccine. Phase 1B, Group 6, will include adults 45-64 with one or more underlying health conditions at increased risk, migrant workers and seasonal farm workers, seafood and agricultural workers, food processors and people living in low-income senior housing, older congregations and living independently.
This group is eligible to start the vaccine from 29 March.
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program
Some retail pharmacies in Central Oregon offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible groups through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 vaccination. Due to the limited supply, there will not be enough vaccines to vaccinate all eligible Oregonians. Appointments can be available by visiting https://vaccinefinder.org.
Vaccination for vaccine
From 1 March, groups are eligible:
To determine if you are eligible for a vaccine, visit get vaccinated.oregon.gov.
Central Oregonians in the counties of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson can sign up here to be notified when they are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in Central Oregon
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