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Oregon now says most seniors, educators can be vaccinated by early April

Syringes of the Pfizer vaccine during a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Thursday, Jan. 28. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Oregon is on track to finish vaccinating seniors, health care workers and educators by early April, about a month earlier than initially expected, health officials said Friday.

Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen said an increase in the state’s vaccine allocation from the federal government will allow the state to speed up the timeline and move on to the next group of eligible vaccine recipients earlier in the spring.

Oregonians 80 and older become eligible for shots on Monday, adding about 168,000 people to a pool of more than 500,000 who are already eligible to get a shot.

Allen said the Biden administration has promised Oregon about 75,000 vaccine first doses weekly, up from 52,000. The increase comes from a higher allocation of the Moderna vaccine directly to the state, as well as about 12,000 doses weekly being shipped to retail pharmacies.

Allen said Oregon now expects to vaccinate three-quarters of seniors, health care workers and educators by early April and then open vaccines to other groups. Those next eligible will include frontline essential workers like grocery store employees, adults 65 and under with underlying health conditions that place them at higher risk for serious cases of Covid and people living in low-income and congregate senior housing.

-Rachel Alexander

Correction: This article incorrectly listed the number of Oregonians 80 and older. It is about 168,000, not about 178,000.