COVID-19 vaccine events and opportunities

COVID-19 vaccine events and opportunities

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Intro: Clatsop County continues to ramp up COVID 19 vaccine distribution. Joanne Rideout reports.

The Clatsop County Vaccine Task Force held its largest clinic to date last week, administering approximately 900 first doses Thursday at the county fairgrounds in Astoria. In total, the county administered more than 2,200 first and second doses at four events during the week.

Chris Laman is vaccine task force incident commander, and Columbia Memorial Hospital’s director of pharmacy. He said the county will continue vaccinating as many people as possible moving forward.

Chris Laman: “We are going to have events at the old high school in Seaside and the fairgrounds.”

This week, organizers hope to get about 1500 more shots in arms, mainly the first dose of the two-dose regimen of the Moderna vaccine. The target population for this week’s round of vaccines will be K-12 teachers, early learning staff, and residents age 70 and over, along with individuals receiving second doses.

Laman said the county is also starting to focus on reaching homebound residents who can’t get out to participate in a mass vaccination event.

As of Friday, March 12, Clatsop County has immunized almost 10 percent of the county population, about 3,700 people. They’re aiming for about 28,000 or 70 percent.

Experts believe a 70% vaccination rate will offer “herd immunity” and limit the spread of COVID-19 in the county.

Here’s how you can get a shot:

For county residents who need a vaccine and have not yet filled out the county’s form to get on their waiting list: go to the Clatsop County website to fill out that form and get yourself in line for a shot.

If you are homebound and can’t get out to a vaccine appointment, contact the Clatsop County Health Department at 503.325.8500, extension 2. They’ll put you on a list to receive the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in your home.

For people who can get out but don’t have a way to get to an appointment, Sunset Empire Transportation will take county residents to vaccine appointments for free. They need 24 hours notice. Call them at 503-861-7433, extension 3.

A reminder that Clatsop County vaccine events and services are open to county residents only.

Other Local Vaccine Providers – currently for area residents 65 and over:

Safeway pharmacies, Astoria and Seaside: 

https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html 

Costco pharmacy, Warrenton: 

https://www.costco.com/covid-vaccine.html 

Walmart Pharmacy, Warrenton: 

https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302

I’m Joanne Rideout in Astoria.