By the SALEM STATESMAN-JOURNAL
Oregon’s vaccine rollout will move forward with an accelerated timeline statewide.
Gov. Kate Brown announced Friday that, in light of increasing vaccine supplies from the federal government and the progress counties and health care providers have made vaccinating seniors, Oregon will again be accelerating its timelines for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include frontline workers and more people with underlying health conditions.
Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said in a Friday press conference that he still expects to receive sufficient supplies of doses from the federal government to meet Brown’s new eligibility guidelines.
He added that the state’s total supply will be adequate to vaccinate all Oregon adults by early June.
Oregon is currently averaging more than 26,200 doses per day, Allen reported. More than one million people statewide have received at least one dose, accounting for 80% of those currently eligible and 25% of the total population.
Of adults 65 years and older, 66% have been vaccinated. Oregon ranks 35th in the nation for the percentage of older adults vaccinated.
“We still have work to do,” Allen said.
The biggest challenge, he said, is getting people to get the vaccine, especially as the demand slows in some counties for older adults.
This plateau effect is not because of a lack of supplies, capacity or urgency, or because there aren’t enough available appointments, Allen said, reiterating that the vaccines are safe.
“It’s up to all of us to do our part and get vaccinated when it’s our turn,” he said. “Once enough people get vaccinated, we will be able to further open up businesses and schools, and keep them open.”
In the past week, 22 counties have begun vaccinating Oregonians in Phase 1B, Group 6, according to a recent press release from Brown’s office.
On March 29, Oregonians statewide in Group 6 will become eligible for vaccination, as previously scheduled.
Beginning Monday, April 5, all people in Phase 1B, Group 7 will become eligible for vaccination, two weeks earlier than previously planned.
This group includes frontline workers as defined by the CDC, multigenerational household members, and adults 16 and older with underlying health conditions.
As previously announced, all Oregonians over the age of 16 will become eligible for vaccination no later than May 1.
Phase 1B, Group 6 (Eligible no later than March 29)
- Adults 45-64 with underlying health conditions
- Migrant and seasonal farmworkers
- Seafood and agricultural workers
- Food processing workers
- People living in low-income senior housing, senior congregate and independent living
- People experiencing homelessness
- People currently displaced by wildfires
- Wildland firefighters
- Pregnant people 16 and older
Phase 1B, Group 7 (Eligible starting April 5)
- Frontline workers as defined by the CDC
- Multigenerational household members
- Adults 16 and older with underlying health conditions
For more information, go to govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.