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'It's common sense': In vaccinating Portland's homeless, ambassadors will be key

After a number of counties moved up in eligibility earlier this week, all homeless people in Oregon will be able to sign up for a vaccine appointment Monday.

Maggie Vespa

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Published: 7:02 PM PDT March 25, 2021
Updated: 7:12 PM PDT March 25, 2021

Dressed in a lime green sweatshirt and her logo-emblazed Street Roots hat, Nettie Johnson stood in front of the Woodstock New Seasons Thursday and did what she’s done for years. She sold papers, with her dog Sunny Boy by her side.

But this day was different.

“I almost missed my vaccine. I thought it was today. It was yesterday,” she said, laughing about the moment when she saw the appointment alert on her phone. “I went straight to the convention center. I got there at 9:30. By 10:10, I was out the door with my vaccine. Pfizer.”

Due to underlying health conditions, Johnson was deemed high-risk. She’s also, in her words, “African, descended from slavery.” Friends and relatives have told her they’re nervous to get vaccinated. She was, too.

Now, she’s planning on telling everyone her story.

“I have a friend that died from this. She was in the first group, same age, in New York, and she's a fighter. So I said if it took her out, it could take anybody out,” she said. “I'm not going to sit around and die, waiting around to die when they've got something to help me. It's common sense.”

Johnson telling her story, especially in her capacity with Street Roots, is something county officials are banking on headed into next week.

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