Central Oregon group breaks down barriers to food access and production

This Saturday in Warm Springs, chef and co-founder of Tahoma Peak Solutions Maria Givens will kick off a free event with a presentation about using Native foods as medicine. Following the presentation, attendees can stick around and enjoy snacks with Native and culturally significant ingredients. Click here for event details. This event and others like […]

Mpox vaccines are free, abundant and available to anyone

Update: May 23, 2023 – This blog has been updated to reflect the latest data for Jynneos vaccine effectiveness. Available in Spanish It’s been almost a year since Oregon reported its first case of mpox. That number has since risen to 279, including two pediatric cases (under age 18). But new cases have been trickling […]

COVID-19 VACCINE NEWS: Additional booster authorized for some people; original vaccine discontinued

Available in Spanish The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a second COVID-19 bivalent booster dose for people ages 65 and older and for some people with compromised immunity. Following discussion by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the CDC recommended the changes yesterday. The additional […]

Psilocybin 101: What to know about Oregon’s psilocybin services

Oregon voters approved Measure 109 in 2020. The Oregon Psilocybin Services Act is the first law in the United States that establishes a regulatory framework for receiving psilocybin, also known as psychedelic mushrooms. (Read the law here.) “This can be a life-changing opportunity for many people’s health and well-being,” said Angela Allbee, manager for the […]

Ranch therapy: horses supporting mental health

Of course there are horses trotting around at HORSES on the Ranch in Prineville, near Bend. But “HORSES” also stands for Heal, Overcome, Reconnect, Strengthen, Educate and Support. The young nonprofit offers trauma-informed, equine-assisted psychotherapy programs that focus on women, veterans and young people. HORSES on the Ranch opened in March 2020, just as the […]

COVID-19 and loss of smell: what we know

Available in Spanish One of the most curious symptoms of COVID-19 is loss of smell. It can occur during the illness and linger for weeks, months or years. It can also crop up after the infection goes away. This makes loss of smell a common symptom of long COVID-19. Long COVID can affect vaccinated or […]

What’s next with COVID-19 vaccines or boosters?

Updated 4/4/2023 – This post was updated with a link to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for the current schedule of COVID-19 vaccinations. Available in Spanish A lot of people want to know the answer to this question. For example, will federal health officials authorize a second dose of the bivalent booster? […]

COVID-19 test requirement dropped for Paxlovid

It just got easier to get antiviral medication for COVID-19. Effective Feb. 1, people no longer have to test positive for COVID-19 in order to receive the oral antiviral medication Paxlovid. In removing the testing requirement, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges the limited accuracy of COVID-19 tests, allowing health care providers to […]

Evusheld deauthorized for COVID-19 prevention

Available in Spanish The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that, until further notice, Evusheld is no longer authorized for emergency use because it is not expected to protect against the COVID-19 subvariants currently circulating in the United States. As a result, it cannot be used for new patients or for patients who have […]