Take Your Shot, Oregon scholarship winners announced

Today, Governor Kate Brown announced the five $100,000 scholarship winners of the Take Your Shot, Oregon campaign. Oregonians ages 12 to 17 who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were eligible for the drawing. “I’m incredibly grateful for our scholarship winners, and all the young Oregonians who took their shot to […]

Peer support helps people experiencing homelessness overcome vaccine hesitancy

By: Julie Showers During Blanchet House of Hospitality’s lunch and dinner hours, you will find Jennifer Coon on the sidewalk talking with guests in line for food. A petite woman in a yellow safety vest, Coon offers assistance to people struggling to survive in downtown Portland. And she is busy. Within one hour, she brought […]

Portland Timbers urge Oregonians: Don’t miss your shot

On May 19, the Governor’s Office and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released a public service announcement (PSA) produced with the Portland Timbers urging people in Oregon to get vaccinated to protect against COVID-19.   “I work all game for the perfect shot. And when it finally lines up, I always take it,” said Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson in the PSA. […]

COVID-19 vaccine a game changer for youth

When Paul Carson learned that people 12 and older can receive Pfizer’s authorized COVID-19 vaccine, he couldn’t wait to make an appointment for his son Anthony, pictured at left. Anthony, who is 12 years old, has Down syndrome, which puts him at much higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19. Paul was able to schedule […]

Vaccine Voices: The key to economic recovery

Curtis Robinhold – like so many of us – is working from home these days. Robinhold is the executive director at the Port of Portland and has seen first-hand the impact COVID-19 has had on travel and business. In the video clip below, Robinhold says travel is a barometer for the economy overall, and what we do for each other – like getting vaccinated – matters.   This article first appeared in the May […]

Vaccine Voices: Oregon House Rep. Ricki Ruiz gets his jab so he can visit his family

Representative Ricki Ruiz, 26, is one of Oregon’s youngest legislators. Since 2020, he has represented Oregon House District 50 which covers the indigenous lands of Chinook and Cowlitz that make up Gresham and East Portland.  He received his second shot of Pfizer vaccine at Holy Redeemer School in North Portland, recently, at a clinic run by Multnomah County Public Health with community partners.    “I’m very impressed with this operation,” he […]

Portland metro clinics offer walk-in and drive-up COVID-19 vaccines this weekend

All4Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center All4Oregon is a COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center, created with the collaboration and leadership of Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, OHSU, and Providence. The clinic provides vaccines to all eligible people, 16 and older, in the greater Portland metro area.  Walk-ins are now welcome to the All4Oregon clinic or you can schedule your appointment […]

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 […]

Vaccine Voices: It makes logical sense to just get vaccinated 

Greg Schatten is an IT professional from the Portland area. We spoke with him recently about his reasons for being vaccinated, what he’s looking forward to post-vaccination, and side effects. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.   Why did you choose to be vaccinated?   I wanted to feel like I was being responsible and setting myself […]

Reaching people where they are 

Some of our neighbors may find it challenging to get to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Folks who live in remote areas. People who can’t get time off work. Individuals who are houseless. To reach people where they are, local public health workers are getting creative.   Neva Anderson is an emergency manager and recently led an effort to get […]