Oregon has now administered more than 1,000,000 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Remember, if you have been vaccinated you still need to wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and stay home if you are ill. Oregon has fully vaccinated about 1 in 12 adults, putting us ahead of most other states (Oregon ranks 16th in the percent of people fully vaccinated). As more vaccines become available, vaccine distribution sites will expand to more locations, such as retail pharmacies, outpatient clinics and other sites linked to hospitals and health systems. Please get vaccinated when you are eligible, and as soon as an appointment is available to you. The COVID-19 vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones and help all of us return to a more normal life. We need enough Oregonians to get immunized, so all of us are protected.
Johnson & Johnson is the third COVID-19 vaccine available for use in the United States. It is the first single-dose vaccine against COVID-19. It can be stored in a refrigerator for months, making it easier to distribute. OHA estimates Oregon will receive 34,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. OHA is working with Local Public Health Authorities, state retail pharmacy partners and hospital systems to distribute the vaccine. OHA is planning for strategic deployment of the third vaccine to speed up vaccinations in Oregon. “Having access to a third highly effective COVID-19 vaccine is a game changing development for Oregonians,’ said Paul Cieslak, M.D, medical director for communicable diseases and immunization, OHA Public Health Division. “We believe this vaccine is effective against the virus, and a one-dose regimen will allow us to vaccinate more Oregonians more quickly.”
We anticipate receiving 100 doses of the new vaccine in Hood River County this week. “The best thing is that this one-dose vaccine was 85% efficacious in preventing severe COVID-19,” Dr. Cieslak said. J&J is not an inferior product. In Hood River County we are focusing on hard to reach groups and on vaccinating as many people as efficiently possible. If you get a chance to be immunized for COVID-19 take it regardless of the vaccine brand offered.