Biden’s May 1 goal depends on massive uptick in vaccines

By Terry Murry on Monday, March 15th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – President Joe Biden announced late last week that he wants all adults to be able to get vaccinated by May 1. Earlier the state of Oregon had said that day would come on July 1. Now the state is scrambling, and Umatilla County Public Health is waiting to see what will happen.

“We have to follow what the state of Oregon decides,” Director Joseph Fiumara said. “I expect they’ll make some adjustments. We’re just going to have to see where that’s going to be.”

Fiumara said that there will have to be a big change for the May 1 date to be met.

“It’s going to fall flat unless the doses of vaccine follow that,” he said. “They’re going to have to deliver on the increases in vaccine or that’s just not going to be realistic.” More groups do become eligible in Oregon on March 29. Those include people 45 and older with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women 16 and older, migrant and seasonal farm workers, wildland firefighters, seafood and agricultural workers and other groups.