TriMet gets on board for staff vaccinations

Bus drivers, light rail operators and transit maintenance employees all work shifts that can make it hard to get to vaccine appointments. So TriMet, which provides bus, light rail and commuter rail transit services in the Portland Metro area, is bringing vaccinations to them. Recently, the transit agency held a series of vaccination clinics at its operating facilities, photo of clinic at left. Employees, qualified family members and contract workers rolled up their […]

What is a front-line worker?

Many workers have been on the frontline providing food, gas, medicine and important services throughout the pandemic. Frontline workers are eligible for vaccine now. If you’re wondering whether you are considered a frontline worker, here’s a video that may help you decide. This article first appeared in the April 14, 2021 issue of Oregon Coronavirus Update.

Phase 1B, Group 7 is now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination

As of April 5, folks in Phase 1B, Group 7 who are 16 and older are now eligible for vaccination:  Frontline workers as defined by the CDC and the family members they live with.   People who live in multi-generational households.  Adults ages 16 to 44 with underlying health conditions with increased risk. Oregon has adopted the CDC guidance for underlying health conditions.  Here is a […]

Problems with supply of Johnson & Johnson will not affect Oregon’s timelines

You may have heard about the loss of up to 15 million Johnson & Johnson doses because of a manufacturing mistake. Oregon will not delay its vaccine eligibility timelines because of the disruption in Johnson & Johnson doses: On April 5, all frontline workers and their household family members, younger people with underlying health conditions and people who […]

Governor Kate Brown announces expanded eligibility

On April 2, Governor Kate Brown announced Oregon was expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include all household family members of frontline workers. She also announced that Oregon was expanding its criteria of underlying health conditions to match the CDC’s extended list. These changes will help reduce the racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination rates. The Governor also asked […]

A closer look at eligibility groups: More about frontline workers

On Monday, April 5, several new groups will become eligible statewide for the COVID-19 vaccine. One of these is frontline workers. A frontline worker is someone who has a job that puts them at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 because of: Regular close contact with others outside of their household (less than 6 feet); and […]

Study shows ‘these vaccines will keep people out of the hospital’

On March 29, the Washington Post wrote about an exciting study that Oregon participated in that shows the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines in real life circumstances.  Dr. Paul Cieslak, a senior health advisor with OHA, says, “This study demonstrated that in real-world use, the mRNA vaccines are marvelously effective – 90% – in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as COVID-19 illness in frontline workers. These vaccines will keep […]

Welcome news on vaccine eligibility: What you need to know

Today, we are excited to announce changes to Oregon’s vaccine eligibility schedule based on new information about increased allocation from the federal government. As of now, about 58 percent of Oregonians age 65 and older have been vaccinated. We are on a trajectory to vaccinate more than seven out of 10 by March 29, which […]