Oregonians aged 80 and over will have access to COVID-19 vaccines from Monday, February 8, making senior residents the latest group eligible for coronavirus protection.
Taking the vaccine can be a headache, between online appointments, going to vaccination sites and having to do it all over again for a second dose.
As older Oregonians begin to make their way to vaccination sites in the state, here are five important things to know about the long-awaited protection against COVID-19.
Only seniors 80 years and older are eligible.
Monday is the first of four phases to vaccinate seniors in Oregon this year. People aged 75 and over are eligible for the next phase from 15 February, followed by people aged 70 and over on 22 February and people aged 65 and over on 1 March.
Government officials are asking for patience and are asking that only eligible people should get appointments in the coming days. The state announced Friday that it will debut a new tool on its website covidvaccine.oregon.gov this week that allows users to sign up to receive email alerts or notifications about vaccinations in their area.
Read more: Oregon has a purposeful plan to ensure that vulnerable seniors are vaccinated amid expected ‘chaos’
Make an appointment online, or by phone, sms or email.
Eligible seniors can make an appointment online by going to covidvaccine.oregon.gov. In the middle of the page there is a link with the heading: “Tool for vaccine and questions” with a button: “Let’s get started.” The option asks for a chat service that can help determine if you are eligible and if so redirect you to an appointment page.
According to Washington County Health and Human Services, the first appointments for seniors should be available online Monday at 9 p.m.
Appointments can also be made by phone by calling 2-1-1. Elderly people can also send an email to [email protected], or send the message ORCOVID to 898211 to start an appointment planning appointment.
Read more: How Oregon Elderly People Can Get the COVID-19 Vaccine: Who’s Eligible, How to Plan an Appointment, How Long It Will Take
3. Do not expect to get an appointment right away.
Happiness can play a role in how quickly you can make an appointment. Some may be able to book one right away, while many others will have to wait several weeks to make an appointment, let alone be vaccinated. Factors will include where you live, how many other people are eligible at the same time and how fast you navigate through the online system.
Public health officials have warned that this week could bring ‘chaos’ as the state continues to suffer from insufficient vaccine supply to meet the increased demand.
4. Vaccination rooms will vary by country, and many will take place on mass clinic premises.
Oregon’s most populous counties have set up mass clinics to eradicate the vaccines. Two such clinics at the Oregon Convention Center and Portland International Airport will serve many people in the Portland metropolitan area, while the Oregon State Fairgrounds will serve those in the Salem area.
Local pharmacies will eventually be able to offer vaccinations in some counties in Oregon, including next week. The director of Oregon’s health authority, Patrick Allen, said Friday that the state will receive 13,000 doses this week that are available at 133 different pharmacies. Further details have not yet been released.
Read more: Portland’s first COVID-19 vaccination site is now open: here’s what you need to know
5. The vaccines are safe and effective, although mild side effects are common.
Trials have shown that both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are extremely effective, preventing COVID-19 diseases in more than 94% of non-infected people after receiving two doses.
The vaccines are also extremely safe for the vast majority of people who receive them. Side effects are normal after receiving the vaccine, including pain and swelling at the site of injection, with fever, chills, fatigue and headache. Studies have shown that most people will have only mild or moderate cases, and that serious side effects are rare.
To reduce the pain in your arm, apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth to the injection site, or exercise your arm, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends. It is OK to take painkillers without medication to relieve other symptoms, but do NOT take them before the injection (unless your doctor recommends it) as the medication may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, the AARP warned on Friday.
–Jamie Hale; [email protected]; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB