Vaccine Voices: Nancy Vera

Nancy is originally from Mexico, but has lived in United States most of her life. After spending about a year in Oregon working as a nurse in a McMinnville assisted living facility, she moved to Illinois with her husband where she continues to help seniors with their daily care. Due to her line of work, […]

Blazer5 Gaming players share their #MyVaccineReason

Watch Blazer5 Gaming players get their vaccines and share their reasons for getting vaccinated by watching the video below. You can also learn more at https://myvaccinereason.org/. This article first appeared in the Aug. 3, 2021 issue of Oregon Coronavirus Update.

Vaccine Voices: ‘Looking forward to taking a graduation road trip’

Sophie is 18 and about to graduate high school. She got her first shot of Pfizer at Portland International Airport (PDX). She will be fully vaccinated long before she heads for college to study film and cinema.  Sophia’s senior picture is at right. What are your vaccine reasons?    Vaccines are the best way to prepare your body to combat the virus […]

Vaccine Voices: ‘I’m 16 and excited to have a social life again’

Ella Pulscak recently turned 16. Soon afterwards she got her first dose of vaccine at a pharmacy in Gresham. Our conversation was edited for clarity and length.  How was the experience?  “It went really fast. They just made sure I knew what shot I was getting and told me about potential side effects. I’ve never freaked out much about […]

Joe Conchelos aka Joe Berzerk: Fishing boat captain and TikTok star

We recently talked with Joe about COVID-19’s effects on the fishing industry, vaccination and TikTok fame. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.  I’m the captain of a commercial fishing boat here in Newport. I fish squid and crab and tuna. When we got hit with COVID it was devastating to the industry. A lot of our […]

Vaccine Voices: ‘It never crossed my mind not to be vaccinated’

Jane Salisbury, pictured below right, a retired librarian who lives in the Portland area, shared her vaccine experience: I was born in 1953, and polio was terrifying for people in those years. I was sick as a child, hospitalized more than once, and my parents told me later that those were the hardest years of […]

Vaccine Voices: Executive Pastor Edward Williams

For twenty years, Executive Pastor Edward Williams has helped Mt. Olivet Baptist Church fulfill its mission. He oversees the North Portland church’s operations, human resources, finances and strategic planning. Mt. Olivet, he explains, is Oregon’s oldest African American Baptist church. He shares his reasons for getting vaccinated: “I see COVID as a public health issue […]

Vaccine Voices: Definitely worth a few days of feeling under the weather

Dr. Jessica Hart, a psychologist resident at Northwest Forensic Institute, got both of her vaccines at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. She shared her vaccination experience with us: When asked why getting the vaccine was important to her, Dr. Hart told us, “to protect myself, my family, my coworkers, and the individuals we evaluate through work.” […]

Vaccine Voices: Brittany Dorris

Brittany Dorris, a fifth-grade teacher in the Bethel School District in Eugene, shares her story: I received both doses of the Moderna vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Lane Community College. The opportunity was provided to me by my school district to help vaccinate our school staff before the return to in-person instruction. I […]