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Oregon Now Says All Adults Will Be Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine May 1

Margene Haworth, left, receives a COVID-19 vaccination from McMinnville paramedic Elle Miller, Feb. 5, 2021, at Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg, Ore. Oregon officials say all adults will be eligible to schedule vaccinations by May 1.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff
Margene Haworth, left, receives a COVID-19 vaccination from McMinnville paramedic Elle Miller, Feb. 5, 2021, at Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg, Ore. Oregon officials say all adults will be eligible to schedule vaccinations by May 1.

The Oregon Health Authority was asked by the Biden administration to make all adult Oregonians eligible for vaccine May 1. On Wednesday, the agency confirmed it expects to meet that target.

The Oregon Health Authority told OPB on Wednesday that all adult Oregonians will be eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by May 1.

President Joe Biden set the May 1 timeline earlier this month, but Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said that while she would like to meet that timeline, she wouldn’t change the state’s schedule until she was sure enough vaccines would arrive.

The hesitation stems from a promises made for vaccines under the Trump administration, which then did not arrive.

Now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has sent Oregon an order to make all Oregonians eligible by May 1.

Speaking on Think Out Loud on Wednesday, Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen said the state will comply with the federal request.

“It leaves us a little bit nervous,” Allen said. “To be fair, this administration has generally been pretty good about what it has assured us we will be able to see.”

The timeline doesn’t mean everyone will be able to get a vaccine May 1, but they can start to apply for an appointment then.

Allen said the Oregon Health Authority is considering making some people eligible sooner if they would have been permitted May 1, such as frontline workers, people in multi-generational households and younger people with pre-existing conditions.

Biden also said the federal government is looking into making it easier for people to secure appointments to get vaccinated.

Allen said he doesn’t know what that new federal system might look like, but he thinks that twice vaccine supplies heading to Oregon should double by May 1.

“These problems actually get easier rather than harder, because effectively you start being able to find vaccine everywhere,” Allen said. “At that point you find it at your local health care providers office. You find it at your local pharmacy in more quantities that it is now.”

The state will also continue to offer the shots at mass vaccination clinics currently in operation.

The Oregon Health Authority partnered with Google to create a tool for vaccine registration. The website, getvaccinated.oregon.gov, won’t provide appointments, but it will find a provider when someone is eligible.

Copyright 2021 Oregon Public Broadcasting.

To see more, visit Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Kristian Foden-Vencil is a reporter and producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He specializes in health care, business, politics, law and public safety.