How to get a COVID vaccination in Oregon
As of March 1, everyone in Phase 1A and groups 1-5 of Phase 1B is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon. That includes:
- Health care workers and first responders
- Long-term care residents
- K-12 educators and school staff
- Childcare providers
- People 65 and older
The sign-up process for COVID-19 vaccination in the Portland metro area changed again on March 1. Rather than hundreds of thousands of people scrambling to find thousands of appointments, eligible people will be notified when a dose is available for them. The state will use the information people have submitted at the state's Get Vaccinated Oregon tool as an invitation system. The names of eligible people in the metro area will be gleaned from the Get Vaccinated Oregon database and their information will be sent to the state's partners at the Oregon Convention Center, one of Oregon's mass vaccination sites.
Oregon reports first West Coast case of COVID-19 variant discovered in Brazil
The state announced Tuesday that another COVID-19 variant has arrived in Oregon. Douglas County is reporting a case of the variant first detected in Brazil, known as P.1.
It's the first case reported on the West Coast. Researchers say, like other variants, it's more contagious. It may also be more deadly, and according to the New York Times, scientists have tracked cases of this variant infecting people who already had COVID and recovered.
That said, it does seem like current vaccines are effective in keeping that variant from making you really sick or worse. So, officials said, it's all the more reason to keep vigilant until you get vaccinated.
Enough COVID vaccine for every US adult by end of May, Biden says
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccines for all adult Americans by the end of May, two months earlier than anticipated, as his administration announced that drugmaker Merck & Co. will help produce rival Johnson & Johnson’s newly approved shot.
New COVID-19 mass vaccination site opening in Vancouver
People who live in Southwest Washington will have a new place to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Clark County Public Health announced a new mass vaccination site Tuesday afternoon. It will be at the same site where drive-thru testing has been happening since January: the Tower Mall parking lot. City of Vancouver employees will help run the clinic, with pharmacists from Safeway administering the vaccine.
2,400 COVID vaccine appointments gone in 10 minutes for OHSU drive-thru site
Gov. Kate Brown made all Oregonians 65 and older eligible for the vaccine on March 1. They join more than 200,000 seniors in the greater Portland area age 70 and older who are eligible and still trying to secure their first COVID vaccine shots. The OHSU COVID 19 website posted 2,400 appointments for their Portland International Airport drive-thru clinic Monday morning at 9 a.m. They were available for anyone who was eligible. All appointments were snapped up in 10 minutes.
Washington teachers now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine, Inslee announces
Washington state teachers and childcare workers are now among those who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Jay Inslee announced. Inslee said Tuesday afternoon that educators and licensed child care workers are moving up to Washington's Phase 1B-1 immediately.
While teachers and educators can start making appointments right away, the state's Phase Finder tool may take time to update.
Twitter users who spread COVID vaccine misinformation face permanent ban
Twitter will permanently ban users who repeatedly spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine, the social media platform announced Monday.
