Oregon set to again expand vaccine eligibility later this month; novel variant found
Revised school guidance expected next week
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Gov. Kate Brown and state health officials gave an update on COVID-19 vaccination efforts on Friday, saying they aren’t counting on ramped-up federal shipments just yet – but even if they don’t happen, more Oregonians will be eligible to get the shots later this month.
However, they also warned of another reason not to change health and practices to curb the spread of the virus: the continued appearance of new COVID-19 variants, the latest a novel variant detected by researchers at Oregon Health and Science University, one never before detected in the U.S.
Dr. Renee Edwards, chief medical officer at OHSU, said it will take more investigation to determine how prevalent the variants are, if they increase the severity of the illness and whether they could infect vaccinated people.
Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said the state plans to expand eligibility on March 29 to adults 45 and older with underlying conditions, as well as migrant and seasonal farmworkers, wildland firefighters, food processors, the homeless and those affected by last summer’s wildfires, as well as all pregnant Oregon women 16 and older.
Among other steps, Allen said next week, the state will increase doses shipments to federal qualified health centers by 4,500 doses and add four new centers, including Mosaic Medical in Madras.
Brown saluted the “audacious” call by President Biden to make all adults eligible for the vaccine by May 1 and said she’ll “do everything I can” to meet that timeline, if enough vaccine doses are available. She also expressed gratitude to Oregon’s congressional delegation for working on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package which she said will allow more renters and homeowners to stay in their homes and “accelerate our timelines to crush this virus.”
With three safe and effective vaccines available, Oregon is getting an average of 24,000 vaccine doses into Oregonians; arms each day, the governor said. But she said it was “certainly alarming” to learn of the new COVID-19 variant that’s “believed to have occurred spontaneously here in Oregon.”
Allen pointed out that Oregon has fully vaccinated 454,000 people, ahead of the national average – and said the variation among counties includes reaching vaccination of 75 percent of eligible seniors and others in Deschutes County, while some other counties are lagging and going to get hundreds of extra doses as a result.
Allen said Oregon is expecting by month’s end a weekly supply of more than 200,000 first doses and reaching over 1 million total doses.
Deschutes County Health Services spokeswoman Morgan Emerson said Friday morning the county expects to receive 3,710 first doses of vaccines next week – hundreds more than recent weeks, but still a slow ramp-up and far short of demand. More details were due out later Friday.
News release from Gov. Kate Brown:
Governor Kate Brown Provides Updates on COVID-19 in Oregon
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown held a press conference today to update Oregonians on the status of COVID-19 in Oregon. The Governor was joined by Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director; Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist; Dr. Renee Edwards, OHSU Chief Medical Officer; and Dr. Bill Messer, OHSU School of Medicine Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases.
"Following President Biden’s announcement last night that all Americans will be eligible for a vaccine starting on May 1, I know we are all hopeful we can safely be reunited with our family and friends for small gatherings by the Fourth of July," said Governor Brown. "As Governor, I will do everything I can to make that happen.
"Our plan in Oregon has always been to align our vaccination timelines with available federal supplies. As weekly shipment allocations increase, we will reassess those timelines. If the doses are there, I have every intention of utilizing all available state and federal resources to match the President’s timeline for universal eligibility.
"But let me be very clear: While our timelines will accelerate with available supplies, my commitment to equity in our vaccine distribution will not change. We will continue to prioritize our most vulnerable Oregonians including seniors, people with underlying health conditions, and frontline workers, so that they can be at the front of the line.
"One year into the pandemic, we have come a long way. We are making progress on the vaccine front; we now have more than 174,000 students back in the classroom—and we’re excited that all our kids will have the opportunity to return in the coming weeks; we're investing $250 million to significantly expand summer learning and child care opportunities; and, we'll be receiving significant funding from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan to provide relief to Oregon families, help small businesses get back on their feet, allow renters and homeowners to stay in their homes, and accelerate our timelines to crush this virus.
"But, we are most definitely not out of the woods just yet. With the discovery of new COVID-19 mutations, including one believed to have occurred spontaneously here in Oregon, it is clear that this virus is capable of evolving. It’s alarming, and an important reminder that even in this semi-vaccinated chapter of the pandemic we find ourselves in, where grandparents may be safer, kids are going back to school, and we are feeling a bit more hopeful, we must still keep our guard up. Let’s use this moment to keep making smart choices. Keep wearing your mask. Continue to physical distance. No large gatherings just yet. And get the vaccine—any one of the three—when it’s made available to you."
Video Links
- A recording of today's live-streamed press conference is available here. Please note the video starts at the 32:11 mark.
- A recording of a Spanish language translation is available here. Please note the video starts at the 24:09 mark.
A copy of the Governor's prepared remarks from today's press conference is available here.
More information on vaccines is available at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.
Earlier news release from Gov. Kate Brown:
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Kate Brown on Friday issued Executive Order 21-06, requiring all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to hybrid or full in-person instruction by the weeks of March 29 for grades K-5, and April 19 for grades 6-12.
The governor announced she would be issuing the order in a letter to the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority last week.
“On March 12, 2020, I issued my executive order closing Oregon schools for what was then an extended spring break,” said Brown sai.
“One year later, thanks to the hard work and smart choices of Oregonians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, I am so pleased to see over 174,000 students back in the learning environment that serves them best: in-person instruction.
"While parents can keep their children in distance learning if they choose, this order will give every Oregon student the option to return to school this year,” the governor said.
ODE is expected to release updated Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance for school districts early next week, before the March 19 deadline set by the governor.
