Wednesday, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that 20 Oregon counties have submitted attestation letters, signaling their intention to immediately offer COVID-19 vaccinations to expanded eligibility groups. The counties are Benton, Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union and Wheeler. By attesting, these counties can now begin vaccinating all individuals listed in Phase 1B, Group 7, ahead of the previously designated statewide start date of April 5. “Moving up vaccination in these counties will enable us to vaccinate our frontline workers more quickly while enabling counties with adequate supply to fully utilize their allotment of COVOD-19 vaccine,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. Group 7 is comprised of: Frontline workers as defined by the CDC. People living in multi-generational households. People aged 16-44 with one or more health conditions with increased risk. As of Monday, people in Phase 1B, Group 6 became eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. More than 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered throughout Oregon.
