What you need toknow about getting vaccinated in Oregon

The question most on the minds of most senior Oregonians at this moment is:
“How on Earth do I figure out how/when/and where can I get my Covid19 vaccination if I want one?” The Sunday edition of the Oregonian had what we feel was a concise synopsis in a Q&A format that we will share here with all of you. We will also send out updates as additional information on sites becomes available. This includes our under 65 Charbonneau residents who may have loved ones in the “Senior” category!

But first a plea for outreach to those in our community who may need a little help negotiating the process. The Oregon Health Authority has admitted that they expect chaos to reign, especially early on. A basic tenant of both Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety begins with knowing your neighbors! It means living in a safer, less stressful environment when you know there is a source of help nearby. If you are aware of someone in your neighborhood who may need assistance, please reach out. Not everyone in Charbonneau is on this mailing list and of course, those who do not use computers will not see it, so spread the word!

Starting Monday, Oregon is allowing widespread vaccination for people aged 80 and older.
On Friday, the state’s health leaders and Gov. Kate Brown warned that next week could   feature “chaos.” The state still suffers from inadequate vaccine supply to meet what will be increased demand as seniors become eligible. Oregon is not vaccinating all seniors at once, opting for a phased-in approach over several weeks. Here’s what you need to know to try to navigate the chaos.

Who is eligible Monday?
People aged 80 and older are eligible to be vaccinated starting Monday, (Feb.8) The following week (Feb. 15), Oregonians aged 75 and older will be eligible, followed by 70 and older (Feb. 22) and peopled aged 65 and older (March 1).

How quickly can I get an appointment? Same day? A week?
That’s a tough question. It could take several weeks to book an appointment, let alone get vaccinated. Others may be luckier. Much will depend on where you live, how many other seniors are eligible at the same time and how quickly you navigate the online system.

Why are some of my senior friends already vaccinated?
Either because they lived in less populated counties that moved quickly through the 1a population and educators and made eligible; because they live in congregate care or have qualifying jobs; because they had connections and were able to game the system; or because they were able to show up at a vaccination clinic at the end of the day and land a shot before they went to waste.

OK, where do I go to get vaccinated when it’s time?
If you are in the Portland metro area, chances are the appointment will be at the Oregon Convention Center, the mass clinic in the centrally located facility run by Oregon Health & Science University, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Providence. HINT: If you have mobility issues, you may be directed to the drive through site at PDX, open on weekends. Other counties have mass clinics as well, such as Salem Health’s facility at the State Fairgrounds. It depends, again, on where you live.

What about my doctor’s office or pharmacy? Those are the places I trust. Can I eventually go there?
Again, it depends on where you live, and only time will tell.
Brown on Friday said that Douglas County health officials are working with primary care providers to arrange for appointments there. That’s not the case in other counties.
Pharmacies this week will begin receiving doses in Oregon. Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said Friday the state will receive 13,000 doses this week bound for 133 different pharmacies. That’s about all we know right now.

OK, how do I try to schedule my appointment?
On Monday, if you are eligible, go to covidvaccine.oregon.gov (you could try earlier if you’d like). In the “Vaccine Sequencing” section there’s a “Vaccine Eligibility & FAQ Tool” header with a button that says “Let’s Get Started.” Clicking that prompts a chat service that can help determine if you’re eligible and redirect you to an appointment page if so. People also can send an email to ORCOVID@211info.org for more information on the vaccine process and how to schedule an appointment.

I don’t have a computer. How else can I do it?
You can call 2-1-1 for more on the process and to schedule an appointment.
Seniors can also text ORCOVID to the number “898211” to start a conversation
about scheduling an appointment.

I’m not eligible Monday, but can I get on a waiting list or something?
The state announced Friday that it would debut a new tool on its
covidvacine.oregon.gov website this week that allows users to sign up to get email alerts or text notifications about vaccine events in their area.

How long will it take to vaccinate all these seniors?
That’s an excellent question. According to census records, there are about 767,000 Oregonians aged 65 and older. It will take several weeks to get through all the Oregonians who want an appointment. On Friday, state leaders said that they estimate 75% of all seniors, teachers and 1a eligible Oregonians who want a shot will have received their first dose by April.