health care

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A critical care nurse at OHSU gets a COVID-19 vaccine. | JOSH ANDERSEN/OHSU

Opinion: Low Vaccination rates In Black and Brown Oregonians Call For Action

Already disproportionately affected by the virus, Black and Brown communities have thus far been receiving vaccines at much lower rates than their white counterparts.

Feb 22, 2021

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Audrey Kuehl, a study coordinator at the Clinical Research Institute of Southern Oregon, inoculates Trish Malone with Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. | JIM CRAVEN FOR KAISER HEALTH NEWS

Northwest Researchers Find Race Disparities In COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that race and ethnicity data were often absent in trial results.

Feb 20, 2021

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Dr. Paula Bednarek works at her computer in the Planned Parenthood Northeast Portland Health Center. | BROOKE HERBERT/THE OREGONIAN/OREGONLIVE

During Pandemic, Telemedicine Abortions Become Crucial Resource

Since 2016, Oregon women have had the option to end their early pregnancies at home with an abortion through TelAbortion, a telemedicine program that allows women to bypass in-person visits.

Feb 20, 2021

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Lack of Covid Data on People with Intellectual Disabilities ‘Comes With a Body Count’

Early studies have shown that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a higher likelihood of dying from the virus than those without disabilities, likely because of a higher prevalence of preexisting conditions.

Feb 12, 2021

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Fake 3M masks have flooded into the United States from China./Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Health Workers and Hospitals Grapple With Millions of Counterfeit N95 Masks

Copies of the N95 masks, which are prized for their ability to filter out 95% of particles, have flooded the country, including 1.9 million that were distributed to 40 hospitals in Washington state.

Feb 11, 2021

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SHUTTERSTOCK

As Pandemic Surged, Contact Tracing Struggled; Biden Looks to Boost It

As with everything covid right now — testing, vaccinations and hospital capacity — ramping up contact tracing has become a race against time as new, more contagious variants of the virus threaten to accelerate transmission of the disease

Feb 10, 2021

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KRISTIAN FODEN-VENCIL/OPB

Pharmacies In Costco, Albertsons, Health Mart Will Offer COVID-19 Vaccines

The pharmacies can start vaccinating Feb. 11 for those who qualify -- which will include people 80 and over but don't expect any one place to have a big stock.

Feb 3, 2021

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MILAD B. FAKURIAN ON UNSPLASH

Multnomah County COVID-19 Outbreak Sickens 81 Inmates

Conditions in the jail make it very challenging to stop the virus. Inmates have been given basic cloth masks to wear, and haven’t been vaccinated yet.

Feb 2, 2021

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Gov. Kate Brown | BRADLEY PARKS/OPB

Brown Backtracks On Decision To Shield COVID-19 Details

The governor told the Oregon Health Authority it could release the information weekly but the agency said it will stick to daily reporting.

Jan 31, 2021

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NATALIA MERZLYAKOVA/FOTOLIA

4 Vital Health Issues — Not Tied to COVID — That Congress Addressed in Massive Spending Bill

Late last month Congress passed a nearly 5,600-page legislative package that included $900 billion for urgent pandemic relief, a ban on surprise medical bills and other non-COVID health care issues.

Jan 28, 2021