It’s not immediately clear when the first vaccinations will begin, although a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority suggested it may be Wednesday.
More than 200 dentists and dental students in Oregon have completed the training course offered by the Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Dentistry, with 60 others expected to finish by the end of December.
Conflicts of interest have marred the U.S. government's vaccine effort, with billions showered on vaccine manufacturers that have U.S. officials on their boards.
The institution seeks volunteers for a promising vaccine developed by Oxford University in Britain in collaboration with AstraZeneca, a British pharmaceutical company.
Though the vaccine appears to offer a high level of protection, it's not clear how long immunity would last and whether the vaccine might cause any health problems. No serious side effects have been noted but it's early days yet.
