County is ready to vaccinate, just needs the vaccine
By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 14th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Gov. Kate Brown, acting on the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control, added everyone 65 and older as well as all teachers and staff at schools, early learning centers, and child care centers to the primary list of those to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chairman George Murdock said the county is ready, but the state needs to send more vaccines.
“We have the green light to give vaccinations to those two groups and a lot of people are starting to call about that,” Murdock said. “We don’t know when we’re going to get enough vaccine.”
Brown said the federal government will increase the vaccines being delivered to the state on Jan. 23. However, that doesn’t mean the inoculations will immediately wend their way to Umatilla County. Murdock said that when it does arrive, the county will be scheduling and publicizing vaccination clinics.
“We certainly will have one at the convention center, and depending on the amount of vaccine and the rollout, we might explore other locations too,” Murdock said.
Brown announced Wednesday that the state will rely on hospitals to prepare for the big increase in vaccinations for the two groups. The Oregon Health Authority stated that the initial bump in supplies will probably not be enough to handle the much larger number of eligible recipients. Brown will supply more details about distribution Friday.
