Vaccines not expected in Wasco County until Dec. 22

Dr. Miriam McDonell, North Central Public Health Officer

Local health officials are not expecting coronavirus vaccines to be available in Wasco County this week, but rather, are likely to come in on a second shipment on Dec. 22.

“I feel fairly certain Wasco County is not getting any on the 15th (of December),” said North Central Public Health Officer Dr. Miriam McDonell this morning, Dec. 14. “I think it will be on the 22nd.” 

Vaccines will go to high-risk health care workers such as respiratory therapists as well as long-term care facilities such as Columbia Basin Care and the Oregon Veterans Home, McDonell said.

The state is expected to receive 35,000 vaccines of the Pfizer Vaccine on Tuesday, Dec. 15, and then on Dec. 22, 40,950 more of the Pfizer vaccine and 71,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine. 

The Pfizer Vaccine must be stored at -70 degrees Celsius. McDonell said Mid-Columbia Medical Center does have the cold storage to handle the vaccine at those low temperatures. 

How many of the statewide allotment of vaccines Wasco County will receive early on is still undecided. McDonell said the state vaccine advisory council is still making decisions and setting criteria.

There will be a parallel rollout of the vaccines as different health care facilities will be receiving them from different entities. 

McDonell was hopeful both in the vaccine’s ability to stem cases as well as having a local population willing to receive it. 

In general, our vaccine rates are good around here,” she said, noting there was an increase in people agreeing to get the flu vaccine thus far this year. 

Here is a link to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s address concerning vaccine disbursement. Click here.