Oregon continues to pass other states in the percentage of older adults who have been vaccinated. As of April 2, 70% of all Oregon seniors have been vaccinated.

But, the pace of vaccinations among seniors has slowed because demand for vaccines among older people is down. Some are choosing to wait before getting vaccinated.

Here are some things to consider when making your vaccination decision:

• The vaccines are very safe.
• More than 530,000 people 65 and older in Oregon have been vaccinated so far.
• You may be worried about side effects, but the COVID-19 case mortality rate among people 80 and older is 20% — or 1 in 5. The serious risk the virus poses to older adults far outweighs the temporary discomfort and disruption you might experience from getting a vaccine.

If you have questions, talk with your health care provider or go to covidvaccine.oregon.gov for more information about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

This article first appeared in the April 2, 2021 issue of Oregon Coronavirus Update.