1K vaccine doses heading this way
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Umatilla County Public Health was told at the end of last week that no COVID-19 vaccines would be shipped this week. Over the weekend, the Oregon Health Authority changed its plan.
“We have been confirmed that we are going to be getting about 1,000 doses this week specific to Umatilla County,” U-Co Health Director Joseph Fiumara said.
He said the state changed its mind when the county agreed to narrow its focus on who gets this week’s shots.
“A lot of them are really specified for folks in long-term care facilities, including some of the folks who were originally slated to be served by the Federal Pharmacy Partnership,” Fiumara said.
The county will be working out details on how this week’s doses will be distributed. Fiumara advises people to check the U-Co Health website or social media.
The Federal Pharmacy Partnership is an effort that sends retail pharmacists into nursing homes. The partnership received almost 5 million doses last month and the Centers for Disease Control estimates its only administered about one-quarter of them.
