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Marion, Polk counties remain thousands of vaccines shy of state targets to loosen restrictions

Moderna vaccine doses at a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Centennial Park in Woodburn, Ore. on Thursday, April 1, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

About 28,000 adults living in Marion County still need to get a first dose of Covid vaccine to hit a state target for loosening business and venue restrictions, according to Oregon Health Authority data from Tuesday.

Polk County is closer to the target set by Gov. Kate Brown for 65% of residents 16 and older to take the vaccine. Once a county reaches that target, it can apply to move to the state’s “low risk” category, which allows restaurants, gyms and theaters to host guests indoors at 50% capacity and faith gatherings at 75% of building capacity.

Polk County still needs about 3,100 adults to get a first shot to hit that target. It currently has a first dose vaccination rate of 60.3% for adults.

Marion County now sits at 54.8% of eligible adults with at least one dose of vaccine, up from 52.5% one week ago.

The updated numbers released Tuesday come as Brown announced Multnomah County is the latest in Oregon to move to lower restrictions based on vaccination rates. Oregon as a whole will drop business, event and venue capacity restrictions once 70% of Oregonians 16 or older have had at least one dose of Covid vaccine.

As of Tuesday, 64.3% of Oregonians 16 and older had gotten at least one dose of vaccine, up from 62.3% one week ago. Brown on Friday announced a lottery drawing for Oregonians who have gotten their Covid vaccine as part of a state effort to boost vaccination rates.

-Rachel Alexander