Vaccination stations during a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Thursday, Jan. 28. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Marion County will receive more than 10,000 first doses of Covid vaccine next week, speeding up the process of inoculating local seniors, according to data released Thursday from Oregon Health Authority.
That’s an increase of more than 1,000 doses from the county’s allocation for the week of Feb. 28. It includes 5,280 doses destined for Salem Health, most to be used at the vaccination clinic at the state fairgrounds in Salem.
Other providers, including the Marion County Health Department, Salud Medical Center and Lancaster Valley Health Center, will receive an additional 5,000 doses.
Polk County is scheduled to receive 1,000 first doses for West Valley Hospital’s vaccination clinic.
The increase in available vaccines also comes during the first week since early February when no additional Oregonians will become eligible to receive a shot. That means the pool of people seeking scarce doses isn’t expanding.
Vaccines are also destined for Hi-School pharmacies in Silverton, Mt. Angel and Independence, which will receive 100 doses each.
Walgreens, Safeway and Costco pharmacies will receive additional doses through a separate federal program to ship shots directly to retail pharmacies. According to OHA data, seven Salem and Keizer Walgreens pharmacies are slated to receive 180 doses each of Pfizer vaccine, while the Woodburn pharmacy will receive 360 doses. Appointment information is available on the Walgreens website.
The health department is planning vaccination events in the 97305 ZIP code, which includes parts of north Salem and Brooks, public health director Katrina Rothenberger told county commissioners this week. Along with Woodburn, that area has seen one of the highest rates of Covid cases in Marion County.
Marion County spokeswoman Jolene Kelley said the health department also expects to receive 600 doses of the newly approved Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which only requires one dose. That will be prioritized for county jail inmates, seniors in the Jefferson area and people who are homebound, Kelley said, because of the logistical barriers those people face for getting a second shot.
Currently, Oregonians 65 and older, long-term care residents, health care workers, first responders, correctional employees, inmates, K-12 educators and child care providers are eligible to be vaccinated. The pool will expand to agricultural and food processing workers and Oregonians 45 and older with underlying health conditions on March 29.
-Rachel Alexander
