(Update: Adding video)
Unless allocations increase, it may take until early May to vaccinate all the elderly
BEND, Oregon. (KTVZ) – Governor Kate Brown announced plans to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to expand distribution as frustration increases for those 70 and older who are seeking vaccine nominations.
However, the Oregon Health Authority says the landscape is expected to change dramatically in March.
Brown said the next round of vaccinations will come in waves.
Despite distribution efforts, OHA says only 1 in 4 Oregon senior citizens are vaccinated, but OHA director Pat Allen says that as of Monday, changes are coming in to try to increase those numbers.
“We will open vaccine eligibility for people aged 65 and over on Monday, March 1,” said Allen. “We hope to have received enough vaccines to immunize at least 75% of all elderly people by March 29, weeks before our original schedule.”
And when it comes to Deschutes County, OHA has allocated 2,340 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines for next week – 800 less than this week, despite increased eligibility for Oregon residents age 65 and older.
The 3,140 appointments for the first dose of this week’s vaccine were completed in just two hours. Deschutes County said it would share information on the availability of consultations next week on Monday.
As of Monday, nearly 40,000 Deschutes County residents age 65 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine. To date, some 15,000 county residents aged 65 and over have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccine.
If weekly allocations do not increase, Deschutes County Health Services estimates that it may take until early May to be able to offer a first dose consultation to all residents aged 65 and over.
“Unfortunately, due to the limited supply of vaccine, not everyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine will be able to make an appointment this week,” said Dr. George Conway, director of Health Services for Deschutes County. “With current allocations, it can take several weeks for all eligible to be scheduled.”
Today, Governor Brown announced the next phases of vaccine sequencing. Phase 1B, Group 6 will include adults 45-64 with one or more underlying health conditions at increased risk, seasonal and migrant farm workers, shellfish gatherers and farm workers, food processing workers and people living in low-income senior homes, congregated and independent elderly people alive.
This group will become eligible to receive the vaccine from 29 March.
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program
Some retail pharmacies in central Oregon are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible groups through the Federal COVID-19 Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. There will not be enough vaccines to vaccinate all eligible Oregonians in these locations due to limited supply. Appointments may be available by visiting https://vaccinefinder.org.
Vaccine eligibility
As of March 1, eligible groups include:
To determine if you are eligible for a vaccine, visit get vaccinated.oregon.gov.
Central Oregon residents in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties can apply here to be notified when they are eligible to receive the vaccine.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in central Oregon
Visit: