Governor Brown, OHSU and OHA leadership urge COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters ahead of January Omicron surge

Today, Governor Brown, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) leadership shared information about the latest projection about the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon due to the new Omicron variant.

Public health officials monitor Omicron and are prepared to respond

There is still much to learn about the Omicron variant of COVID-19. We do know that viruses mutate or change constantly. To help you better understand how Oregon is monitoring this new variant and for a broad look at where we are now, we turned to Dr. Thomas Jeanne, deputy state health officer and deputy state epidemiologist, and Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

Much still unknown about the Omicron variant. Here’s what we know today.

The news of the Omicron variant emerging in several countries may cause many people anxiety about the unknown. The news comes on top of pandemic fatigue, as cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue, and as we continue to deal with nearly two year’s worth of disruptions to our daily lives.

What you need to know about virus variants

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to sort through all the information we come across. The Delta variant continues to be in the headlines, but other variants are in the news as well. You may be wondering what a variant is, and how common are different types of variants.   Viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes […]

New data provide further evidence of vaccine effectiveness

Today, OHA’s Medical Director of Respiratory Viral Pathogens Dr. Melissa Sutton spoke with medical officials from across the state to provide an update on the COVID-19 situation in Oregon. Here’s what you need to know. New CDC data displays further proof of vaccine effectiveness Dr. Sutton highlighted information from the Centers for Disease Control and […]

Updates on the Delta variant

There’s been talk in the news and online about the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant — what it is, where it has spread and whether it’s something to be concerned about. Here’s what you need to know. Delta variant defined The Delta variant is classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a “variant […]