Vaccine Voices: “It’s the only thing that is going to keep him out of the hospital.” A mom takes no chances with her son’s health

The first time Angela Doescher tested positive for COVID-19 was March 2020, back when a vaccine was merely a hope on the horizon. The Bend resident was sick for seven months, and to this day suffers long-haul symptoms. She tested positive a second time in July 2021, after being vaccinated, and felt better just two […]

Vaccine Voices: Alex ‘had the biggest smile’

For 10-year-old Alex, it has been a very long wait to get his COVID-19 vaccination. Alex has asthma and has already been hospitalized a couple of times with it in his short life. “As soon as he gets either a cold or any kind of virus it goes into his lungs and he requires two different inhalers,” said his mother Kimberly.

Vaccine Voices: Getting vaccinated is an opportunity to ‘be a hero and save your community’

The moment Victoria Leo learned Mercy Flights was sponsoring a drive-through vaccination clinic, she began counting the days until her appointment. On the eve of the big day, she was so excited she couldn’t sleep— And rightly so. Victoria, an author and retired psychotherapist, has an underlying condition that could make a COVID-19 infection especially dangerous.

Vaccine Voices: ‘Safest path to protecting myself and my townsfolk’

Diana, a lawyer, who lives in Brownsville, waited quite some time before getting vaccinated. A 63-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a pacemaker, she felt hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Roseburg woman rolls up sleeve after loss of two friends

“I was terrified of the vaccine,” said Tammy Castleman, 57, of Roseburg. “In all fairness, I’ve always been terrified of any vaccine, and have received them (some) reluctantly at best. I’ve never even had a flu vaccine. I don’t fear needles, but what’s in them; whether that’s entirely rational or not.” Castleman is a medical […]

Monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19

Getting diagnosed with COVID-19 can be scary. However, since the pandemic began, more treatments have become available to reduce the severity of COVID-19 in those who have become infected. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments are one such form of treatment that have been authorized for emergency use in the United States. What is a monoclonal antibody? […]

COVID-19 can affect anyone

There’s a rumor that COVID-19 only has serious consequences for older individuals. Since April 3, however, nationwide data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have indicated that people ages 18–49 have made up a greater proportion of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations than people ages 65 and older. For the week ending on May […]

Vaccine Voices: Ivonne Rivero

Ivonne Rivero is a homecare worker, who looks after an elder near and dear to her: her mother. “As you can guess, my mother is the matriarch in this family,” says Rivero. “Her life is so, so important to all of us.”  As a homecare worker, Rivero is responsible for helping her mother live as […]

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 […]