As the state moves to reopen, Oregonians are starting to see a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel filled with summer barbecues and breezy, bustling happy hours—at least, for vaccinated, and mostly white, Oregonians. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) predicts that 70 percent of adult Oregonians will have at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine by June 21, at which time almost all statewide mask, social distancing, and building capacity limit requirements.
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Oregon vaccine committee to send final priority recommendations to Gov. Brown
People under 65 with underlying conditions, frontline essential workers, people in custody and those in low-income and congregate senior living would get priority. Author: Galen Ettlin Updated: 7:26 PM PST January 28, 2021
OREGON, USA Oregon s Vaccine Advisory Committee is poised to send its final priority recommendations to Gov. Kate Brown s office.
After nearly a month of meetings, the 27 committee members met Thursday and voted on a list of groups they want vaccinated first after health care workers, educators and seniors. We re prioritizing hundreds of thousands of people, which far outstrips the supply of vaccine, said member Laurie Skokan of Providence Health & Services. It could create negativity and additional mistrust in the sense they may have been prioritized but don t have access.
Oregon s vaccine committee want people of color to be prioritized for shots to tackle structural racism in healthcare
Oregon s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee recommended Thursday that the next eligible group should be the state s 806,000 BIPOC people
It also recommended people with underlying chronic conditions - about 1.8 million Oregonians - be next in line
One committee member said people of color should come ahead of people with chronic conditions in order to tackle structural and systemic racism
This pits these groups ahead of some essential frontline workers and prisoners
State lawmakers of color sent the committee a letter Monday saying essential workers should be prioritized instead
People in low-income senior housing and other congregate living for people under 65
By the end of Thursday s meeting, the committee narrowed that list to BIPOC and people with chronic conditions.
Data show BIPOC communities have consistently been disproportionately impacted by health inequities. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception, with many communities of color facing a greater number of cases and deaths per capita. These people are silent and unseen, committee member Debra Whitefoot said. She is with Nch i Wana Housing, advocating for native populations in Oregon.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has several representatives attend these weekly committee meetings to answer questions, provide data and discuss possible vaccine implementation methods.