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On Monday, Oregon opened up vaccinations to people age 80 and next week those 75 and older will be eligible. Oregon is the last state in the country to open up vaccinations to seniors.
Residents can text, call or email for information, but most people will probably have to book an appointment online.
Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said that every senior, educator and person eligible in the 1a group who want a vaccine will be able to get a first dose by early April.
The Biden administration’s much-needed national strategy to end the covid-19 pandemic includes plans to remedy the chaotic vaccination effort with “more people, more places, more supply.”
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.
Patients are not charged for the vaccine or the provider’s cost of administering it whether they have commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or no insurance at all.
The group recommended that adults 65 and under with underlying health conditions, frontline essential workers, people 16 years and older in custody and those living in low income and senior housing.
The reallocation comes at a time when cases and hospitalizations are down but the need for vaccines is more urgent than ever with the presence of new variants in the United States.
The Oregon Health Authority responds to a plea from public health officials from Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties for more vaccine to inoculate the tens of thousands in category 1a.
Oregon needs to respond to new information about variants as most other states have, by adjusting the current priority to begin vaccinations for 65+ immediately.
