COVID-19 booster dose now recommended for 5-11 year olds

To read this story in Spanish, click here. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup has authorized a single booster dose of the pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11. The group’s decision Thursday evening follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) […]

Additional COVID-19 booster dose authorized for some adults and immunocompromised minors

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement yesterday updating its COVID-19 vaccination guidelines to include a second booster dose for some adults, as well as for immunocompromised people age 12 and older. Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) statement on the new booster guidelines is here. All of the following booster doses can […]

Los CDC acortan el tiempo de espera entre la serie de vacunas primarias y las dosis de refuerzo para las personas inmunodeprimidas

El viernes 11 de febrero, los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) actualizaron su guía de vacunación contra la COVID-19 para personas con inmunodepresión moderada o grave. La nueva guía reduce el tiempo de espera para recibir una dosis de refuerzo (cuarta) de una vacuna de ARNm […]

FDA authorizes new guidance on Pfizer vaccines and boosters for children and adults 

On Jan. 3, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the authorization of emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine guidance in three ways.

Vaccine Voices: Vaccines will help us ‘get to freedom’

Sharon Porter, a retired educator in La Grande, did not hesitate at all to get the COVID-19 vaccine. As a cancer patient, Sharon is grateful for the treatments that have kept her alive for many years. As Sharon explains, “I have been vaccinated for measles, smallpox, polio, shingles, flu, and all the other childhood diseases. I felt I had a load […]

OHA releases statement on booster dose recommendation

Today, officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened medical experts to discuss whether to recommend that people who’ve previously been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine should receive a booster shot to help maintain the effectiveness of their vaccinations over time. At today’s hearing, the committee recommended that people age 65 and […]

Monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 (update)

Getting diagnosed with COVID-19 can be scary. However, in addition to the safe and effective vaccines, we now have more treatments available that can reduce the severity of COVID-19 in those who have become infected. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments have the potential to save lives and relieve the burden on Oregon’s health care system and […]

FDA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine, which will be marketed as “Comirnaty.” Under the newly granted FDA approval, Comirnaty will be available to all people ages 16 and older to prevent COVID-19 disease. Under Emergency Use Authorization, the vaccine will continue to be available […]

FDA, CDC and Western States recommend additional vaccine dose for immunocompromised individuals

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup have all recommended an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine be administered to people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems. On Aug. 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adjusted the existing […]