There are 11 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,843 the Oregon Health Authority reported January 21, 2021
OHA also reported 849 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 135,973.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported are in the following counties: Baker (4), Benton (24), Clackamas (71), Clatsop (7), Columbia (1), Coos (10), Crook (2), Deschutes (32), Douglas (22), Gilliam (1), Harney (1), Hood River (8), Jackson (42), Jefferson (6), Josephine (21), Klamath (18), Lake (1), Lane (97), Lincoln (11), Linn (23), Malheur (18), Marion (87), Morrow (11), Multnomah (123), Polk (18), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (35), Union (6), Wallowa (1), Wasco (11), Washington (110) and Yamhill (26).
Vaccine Voices: ‘I trust the science, and the data is phenomenal’
Anna Antonopulos, a pediatric hospitalist in Medford, shares her vaccination story: “I got my COVID-19 vaccine to protect my patients, my friends, my family and myself. I have dedicated my life to helping others around me, whether that is treating patients in the hospital, teaching Sunday school at church, being a super aunt to my five nieces and two nephews, and just being a good neighbor and friend. Getting my vaccine is an extension of this. I want to be an example. I trust the science, and the data is phenomenal. I was so excited to get my vaccine.”
Vaccinations in Oregon: Today, OHA reported that 14,951 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 8,699 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 20 and 6,252 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 20.
Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).
Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 253,711 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).
To date, 479,325 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA’s dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.
Vaccine Advisory Committee narrows recommendation, plans further discussion
Oregon’s 27-member COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) met for its third official business meeting on Jan. 21. The committee met and discussed how to best sequence populations to center those most likely to experience both health inequities and the worst effects of COVID-19.
The VAC is expected to make a final recommendation on implementation and allocation scenarios at its next formal meeting on Jan. 28. More details from today’s meeting are available.
Facebook Live: Experts answer your COVID-19 vaccine questions
We know Oregonians have many questions about COVID-19 vaccines, their distribution and recent changes to federal recommendations. Some of our experts took the time to answer questions on Facebook Live. You can watch the video here, and time stamps for the questions are available below.
12:44 – I read that 80% of the COVID-19 related deaths are in people over 65. Why are people in this group not first in line?
15:11 – I’m in Phase 1A and I can’t get an appointment to get vaccinated. What can I do?
16:25 – If kids are also getting sick from COVID-19, why aren’t they getting vaccinated? Shouldn’t you be vaccinating both teachers and students before schools open?
17:58 – With the federal shortage, are people who have had their first dose going to be able to get their second dose, or is there a risk that won’t happen?
19:05 – Where can I find information on vaccination sites?
19:53 – Why are college professors not included in the educators that are eligible for vaccination?
20:44 – When will you start vaccinating people with underlying conditions, like diabetes?
22:04 – Why have approximately one-third of vaccines in Oregon not been distributed?
23:53 – When vaccines are available to the public, will they have a cost?
24:38 – Lane County has a significant shortage of vaccines so much so that the Public Health Division is turning those in Phase 1A away. What plans are in place to make sure supplies are appropriately allocated to the areas in need?
26:19 – How and where do I find out when it’s my turn to get vaccinated if I don’t have a physician?
27:11 – When are additional doses of vaccine from the federal government expected to arrive in Oregon?
28:27 – Are COVID-19 vaccinations available in Eastern Oregon?
29:28 – How will people who have mobility issues and don’t have transportation get to COVID-19 vaccination clinics?
30:53 – Can we have an estimate for when everyone will be able to get the vaccine?
31:52 – When will essential workers be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations?
Weekly COVID-19 cases decline, deaths surge
OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report was released today and showed a slight decline in daily cases and a sharp decline in positive tests. Here are some findings:
- OHA reported 7,860 new daily cases during the week of Monday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 17, a 4% decrease from the previous week.
- There were 332 people hospitalized for COVID-19.
- COVID-19 related deaths surged to 195, the highest weekly toll to date, following a previous pandemic high the prior week as well.
- There were 129,723 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Jan. 10 through Jan. 16. The percentage of positive tests dropped to 5.9%.
- People age 20 to 49 have accounted for 54% of COVID-19 cases, while people 70 and older have accounted for 77% of deaths associated with the virus.
Today’s COVID-19 outbreak report shows 208 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, with three or more confirmed cases and one or more COVID-19 related deaths.
OHA releases updated pediatric report
Today, OHA issued a report analyzing the case data of pediatric COVID-19 cases in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic. Here are some key findings:
- As of Jan. 5, there had been 119,488 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Oregon. Pediatric patients — defined as people under 18 years old — accounted for 13,328, or 11.2%, of the total cases. There had been seven cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).
- There was a dramatic rise in daily COVID-19 pediatric cases in late October and mid-November with cases levelling out somewhat by the end of 2020.
- The report indicates that while pediatric case counts have increased, pediatric patients remain far less likely than adults to develop severe cases of COVID-19.
- Only 0.9% of pediatric patients have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illness. Comparatively, 6.2% of adults with COVID-19 have been hospitalized.
