CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Final details for a drive-in coronavirus vaccination clinic in Jackson County were published on Monday, allowing eligible “Phase 1a” members to apply and obtain the necessary paperwork.
The drive-in event is still planned for January 21, 22 and 23 at the Jackson County Expo, and several dozen National Guard members are expected to be available to help with all aspects of the initiative – from logistics to vaccine administration.
With an increase in vaccine doses no longer expected from the federal government, the next event will not be expanded to include educators and the elderly. Eligible Phase 1a members – including healthcare professionals, first responders and residents and employees of long-term care facilities – are strongly encouraged to visit the Asante website and have the paperwork prepared in advance.
CLICK HERE to visit the Asante vaccination event website (Phase 1a only)
When the event starts, people will drive to a checkpoint for their paperwork to be examined and will be asked to verify verbally that they are in Phase 1a. They will be vaccinated while they are still in their vehicles and then they will be driven to a waiting area for observation for a period of 15 minutes or more to ensure that there are no serious allergic reactions.
Participants will receive a form stating that they have received their first dose, along with details on how to receive a second dose in the following weeks.
The Jackson County clinic will be open from 9 am to 4:30 pm on January 21, 22 and 23.
A second similar event is being planned for Josephine County on January 24th and 25th, and registration is available on the same page as Asante. The authorities hope to carry out 3,000 vaccinations at this event. Unlike the Jackson County clinic, it will be open to pre-K through 12th grade educators and other school staff.
The drive-in events in Jackson and Josephine County will be provided with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which requires deep-frozen storage. Nickerson said the Asante team is now well accustomed to the process of storing and defrosting the vaccine and will have sufficient doses prepared for use as needed.
There are about 20,000 people in Phase 1a in Jackson County, public health officials said, and more than 7,000 in Josephine County.
Governor Kate Brown last week announced the state’s adjusted schedule for expanding vaccinations beyond Phase 1a. Vaccines will be made available to educators from January 25 across the state. Seniors will be eligible from February 8, starting at age 80 or older.