Six Lane County health care providers discussed plans concerning COVID-19 vaccination distribution in a remote city hall meeting on January 21, 2021. Vaccines are expected to reach Lane County by March after meeting the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements. Public health officials plan to allocate a limited supply of vaccines to healthcare workers, educators and high-risk populations first.
Public information officer Jason Davis said the meeting was to provide clear information to the public regarding COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Patrick Luedtke, Senior Public Health officer at Lane County Public Health, spoke on the vaccine development process. He explained the COVID-19 vaccination must pass the FDA approval process before manufacturers can administer the vaccine. The vaccine must pass three stages resulting in data that shows its positive effects on patients.
Two vaccines are scheduled to release phase three data and Dr. Luedtke is optimistic about their turnouts. He expects their availability in Lane County by March.
“We don’t have enough of those vaccines, but it’s remarkable we’d have any vaccines at all in such a short period of time,” Dr. Luedtke noted. “We have an ethical responsibility to make sure that we use it as efficiently and effectively as possible.” Dr. Luedtke explained why the first prioritized group to receive the COVID-19 vaccination is health care workers. “We need to focus on not only who is at the highest risk, but we also need to focus on who will keep society running, who are the persons that are really critical to the COVID 19 response.”
Dr. Jim McGovern stated PeaceHealth started vaccinating their most at-risk employees’ within COVID units, intensive care or emergency departments. Once equipped and capable, PeaceHealth plans to distribute vaccinations in the community to the greatest extent possible. Dr. McGovern spoke on behalf of the group saying, “The vaccines belong in arms, not freezers.” He also commented that it’s uncertain whether the vaccine will remain effective against a mutated variety of this virus.
Dr. Jessica Versage of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital said the COVID-19 vaccine “has been very well studied and is very safe to receive.” The McKenzie-Willamette Hospital has administered over 2,200 vaccinations, including a recommended second shot. Versage added that more than 3,000 appointments are scheduled for vaccinations starting at the beginning of March.
Emergency Medical Services Chief JoAnna Kamppi said EMS providers are developing groups to distribute vaccinations assigned by Lane County Public Health. As of January 21, EMS had vaccinated emergency response agencies such as “fire, EMS and law enforcement, first responders in Lane County.” They’ve also vaccinated agencies that classify under Lane County’s high-risk group.
Krista Dillon, director of operations for safety and risk services at the University of Oregon, states that UO is prepared to provide vaccination clinics on campus via drive-through or an indoor facility. They plan to vaccinate University of Oregon employees, starting with on-campus staff followed by remote faculty.
Dr. Stacy Chance of the Oregon Medical Group is planning the logistics of opening vaccine clinics to everybody in the community.
“The most important thing we’re working on now is doing our very best to provide accurate and up-to-date information to everybody,” Chance stated. He advised everyone to get the vaccine as soon as it is available to them, including people who previously had and recovered from COVID-19.
The vaccine’s effectiveness will be determined as its supply meets the public demand. Expect to follow regular COVID-19 protocol for the foreseeable future. For those interested in knowing when a vaccine is available, visit the Lane County Public Health website.
