HR County Moves Up in Risk Level & J&J Vaccine to resume

Effective Friday, April 23rd, Hood River County will move to Moderate Risk Level through May 6th. The counties surrounding us will all be in the High Risk Level. Our county has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with over 30 new cases in the last 10 days alone. It is more important than ever to continue wearing masks, maintain social distancing, and stay home if you are sick.

Getting vaccinated is one of the most important ways to protect yourself, your family, and your community. All Oregonians over the age of 16 are eligible to receive a vaccine. Help us get this county vaccinated by encouraging those around you to sign up for an appointment:

  • Appointments for 18+ (Moderna):
    • Thursday 4/22 HRC Health Department Vaccination Clinic – Spots Available!
  • Appointments for 16-18 (Pfizer):

On Friday, April 23rd, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moved to lift the pause on administering Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.

  • J&J vaccine is determined as safe and effective for adults aged 18+
  • Added warning for extremely low risk of potential blood clots for women under age 50
  • Oregon vaccine sites awaiting final approvals to resume administering vaccine

Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, specifically among those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. In response to these spikes, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) now recommends a full 14-day quarantine for anyone unvaccinated who comes into close contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Fully vaccinated individuals who have had no symptoms since COVID-19 exposure are not required to quarantine. To qualify as fully vaccinated, it must have been at least 2 weeks since your final dose of your vaccine series (2nd dose of 2 dose series or single dose of 1 dose series).

Help protect our community by encouraging those around you to get vaccinated. Visit hrccovid19.org for information on how to get vaccinated.