(Update: Adding Governor Brown’s video, press release)
If the expected doses arrive, everyone who wants should have access by May 31
SALEM, Oregon. (KTVZ) – Governor Kate Brown received on Friday news of the CDC’s reduced spacing guidelines for schools, 6 to 3 feet, while state health officials announced details of the acceleration of vaccine eligibility in the coming weeks.
Regarding the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, Brown said, “This is welcome news for many school districts,” adding that school districts still need to have conversations with communities about the details of the progress. “I hope this helps to bring even more children back to the classroom.”
If projected vaccine supplies arrive, Oregon will meet President Biden’s schedule of all adults eligible to receive the vaccine by May 1. Brown said the state hopes to have enough doses so that every Oregon adult who wants the vaccine can receive at least their first dose by the end of May.
“The future looks brighter, every day,” she said.
Oregon vaccine prioritization schedule
March 22
• Counties that certify that they have largely completed the vaccination of residents aged 65 and over can begin to vaccinate the next eligible groups.
• Vaccination can also begin for rural migrant and seasonal workers in the counties where they are already working.
March 29th
Phase 1B, Group 6
• All adults aged 45 to 64 with underlying health problems,
• Migrant and seasonal agricultural workers,
• Seafood and farm workers,
• Food processing workers,
• People living in homes for the low-income elderly, elderly congregation and independent living,
• Homeless people,
• People currently displaced by forest fires,
• Wild firefighters, and
• Pregnant women aged 16 or over.
April 19th
Phase 1B, Group 7
• Frontline workers, as defined by the CDC,
• Multigenerational family members, and
• Adults aged 16 to 44 with underlying health problems.
1st May
• All Oregonians, 16 and older
OHA Director Patrick Allen noted that some counties have made more progress than others – Deschutes County, for example, vaccinated 7 out of 10 elderly people and can be given the authority to advance the planned schedule and start vaccinating the next population.
Allen said he expected 2.5 million doses by May 1 and 3.3 million by the end of the month, making it possible for all Oregon residents who want the vaccine to be vaccinated in 10 weeks.
Press release:
Governor Kate Brown announces accelerated vaccination schedules
(Salem, OR) – At a press conference with the Oregon Health Authority, Governor Kate Brown today announced Oregon’s accelerated vaccination prioritization schedules. The governor was accompanied by Patrick Allen, Director of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA); Dr. Dean Sidelinger, State Epidemiologist; and Holden Leung, CEO of Asian Health & Service Center.
“As vaccination efforts accelerate, I want to thank Oregon residents once again for making smart choices during this pandemic. Oregon continues to have one of the lowest infection and mortality rates across the country. We have the fourth rate of lowest infection since the start of the pandemic and the fifth lowest mortality rate. Their actions saved lives, “said Governor Brown. “As we open eligibility for all Oregon residents on May 1, I remain committed to the equitable distribution of vaccines to our elderly, frontline employees and Oregon citizens with underlying health problems.”
“The Oregon Health Authority told me that, as long as supplies come from the federal government as planned, we hope to have enough doses for all Oregon residents who want a vaccine and have the opportunity to have at least a first dose by the end of May. Make me smile. I hope it will happen for you too. The future looks brighter every day. “
As of March 22, counties that can attest to having largely ended vaccinations for Oregon residents age 65 and older can move on to the next prioritization groups. Until March 29, vaccinations can begin for Phase 1B, Group 6, which includes people aged 45 and over with underlying diseases and some groups more vulnerable to COVID-19. On April 19, vaccinations can begin for Phase 1B, Group 7, which includes all frontline workers and people with underlying illnesses aged 16 to 44 years. On May 1, all Oregon residents aged 16 and over will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.
A complete summary of Oregon’s accelerated vaccination schedules is available here.
Video links
- A recording of today’s live press conference is available here. Note that the video starts at the 31:30 mark.
- A recording of a Spanish translation is available on the OHA Facebook page here. Note that the video starts at the 1:03 mark.
A copy of the comments prepared by the governor at today’s press conference is available here.
More information about vaccines is available at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.