PORTLAND — In Oregon the number of people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and the amount of doses being shipped to the state have increased, however multiple vaccine locations were forced to close Friday and Saturday due to snowy and icy weather.
In addition, officials from the Oregon Health Authority reported Friday that there are four “breakthrough cases” in the state — people who tested positive for coronavirus at least 14 days after completing their vaccination series.
Officials say that two “breakthrough cases” are in Yamhill County and the other two are located in Lane County. The illness in these individuals range from asymptomatic to mild. Officials said that studies show that the vaccine may help reduce the severity of the illness.
“What all this means is that we can expect to see more breakthrough cases,” Dean Sidelinger, the health authority’s state health officer, said Friday. “Getting as many Oregonians as possible vaccinated remains a critical objective to ending the pandemic.”
Currently, 10 percent of Oregon’s population have received at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
“Although still scarce, vaccines are becoming more widely available. More Oregonians are getting vaccinated by the day,” Sidelinger said.
Health officials announced Friday that Oregon’s weekly allocation of first doses is again increasing, from 75,000 to 82,000.
“These additional doses will help ensure our timelines stay on track and we may even get through our population of older adults sooner, but it’s still too early to tell,” said Patrick Allen, the director of the health authority.
On average, more than 17,000 Oregonians are being vaccinated a day. Health authority officials say the state needs to reach and maintain more than 25,000 doses per day to achieve community immunity in Oregon before autumn.
This week, Oregonians who are 80 or older became eligible for vaccine. Officials say that approximately 26 percent of that population has been administered doses.
“I know many of you were disappointed you couldn’t get an appointment,” Allen said. “I want to let you know I stand by my promise that you’ll get vaccinated.”
People age 75 years or older will become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.
Allen said that Oregon remains on pace to administer first doses to 75 percent of all eligible populations, including seniors 65 or older, by early April.
In addition, Allen said that he expects that by the end of the week more than 500,000 Oregonians — 70 percent — of people currently eligible to be vaccinated would receive their first dose.
Unless, Allen said, weather “takes a major toll on our ability to vaccinate people in coming days.”
On Friday multiple vaccination sites were forced to close their doors and cancel thousands of appointments due to snowy and icy weather that created dangerous conditions.
The Oregon Convention Center, Oregon Health & Science University and Clark County Fairgrounds all announced they would be closed Friday and today and will work to reschedule appointments.
