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May 28, 2021

With vaccination, people 12 and older can safely return to more summer activities

Last summer was difficult for most of us, but COVID-19 uniquely impacted younger people. At an age where kids often explore independence and build new relationships, last year they were asked to stay home, stay physically distant, meet up over screens and wear face coverings. While these things were necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it was a trying time for children and teens.

This year folks who are 12 and older can return to that path toward independence.

Getting vaccinated can mean a return to camps, part-time jobs, travel, swimming and seeing friends smile in person rather than on a screen.

As we near the end of the school year, opportunities for vaccination are increasing. Oregon is moving COVID-19 vaccines into more clinics and pharmacies. For parents and teens, this is a great time to talk with your trusted health care provider or pharmacist about getting vaccinated. They can answer your questions about vaccination and may even be able to schedule a vaccination visit along with an annual sports physical.

Vaccination is the safest and most effective way for teens to return to doing the things they love this summer.

To find a vaccine provider who offers the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which is approved for anyone who is 12 and older, select the vaccine type on Get Vaccinated Oregon or the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Vaccines.gov.

Young person with lightening rod on their t-shirt.


It’s game time, Oregon!

Two million Oregonians, including your Trail Blazers, have gotten a safe and free COVID-19 vaccine. The Portland Trail Blazers encourage everyone in Oregon to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Lucky fans who attend one of the vaccination clinics hosted by Multnomah County’s REACH program and OHSU — and get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine — will have the opportunity to receive some Trail Blazers swag, such as T-shirts, posters and even tickets to a 2021-22 preseason game.

“The best way to beat the COVID-19 pandemic and to pack the Moda Center stands again is to get everyone vaccinated,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO, Portland Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “The three COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective, and I am proud to stand alongside OHSU and REACH as we work to get Rip City vaccinated.”

You can find a list of REACH and OHSU clinics here. Help us spread the news by retweeting.

FAn in the stands at Blazer game wearing Lillard shirt, hands raised with text saying "Take your shot, Oregon".

How to present proof of vaccination

As we ease into a holiday weekend, many people in Oregon who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will continue to wear a mask in public places. For those fully vaccinated people who want to take their mask off where allowed with proof of vaccination, please remember:

  • Your original COVID-19 vaccination card (photo or photo-copy okay) is the best proof of vaccination.
  • If you don’t have that card, replacement cards may not be available but there are other forms of acceptable alternative COVID-19 vaccination proof. Proof of vaccination must have your name, date of birth, and date and type of COVID-19 vaccine.
    • You may be able to print a record of your vaccinations from your personal electronic healthcare record on your provider’s website such as My Chart (you may need to black out other information on the record that you don’t want to share);
    • Request a copy of your immunization record from Oregon’s ALERT IIS registry (Call 211 for help; be prepared to wait at last five days before receiving record); or
    • Ask your health care provider to print out your immunization record and mail it to you or ask to pick it up if that is quicker.

If you don’t have proof of vaccination, you can still enter an establishment but you must wear a mask and physically distance. Have a safe weekend!

Click on infographic for pdf.


Do I need to wear a mask? Face covering guidance updates explained

On Wednesday, May 26, experts from OHA and Oregon OSHA answered questions about the guidance on Facebook Live.

Many folks have been asking about whether asking for proof of vaccination is a violation of HIPAA. The answer is that this does not violate HIPAA requirements. This video clip answers the question in more detail. You can watch the full-length video here.


Wildfire prevention is key to a safe Memorial Day holiday

2021 comes with extra concern about early wildfire dangers. Much of the state is currently experiencing drought. Some regions are already in fire season and have fire restrictions in place. Know and follow fire restrictions before traveling.

Drivers can help prevent wildfires:

  • Stay on paved surfaces whenever possible. Avoid roadsides where flammables such as dry grass can come in contact with a vehicle’s hot exhaust system or catalytic converter.
  • Prevent throwing off sparks by ensuring that all parts of your vehicle, from mufflers to chains, are secure and tires have correct pressure.
  • Never toss a lit cigarette or flammable materials from a vehicle.
  • Extinguish all smoking materials completely and thoroughly, away from dry grass and fuels.
  • Carry a fire extinguisher in the car and know how to use it.
  • Know local wildfire danger and restrictions.

For more information on travel and fire safety this holiday weekend read the news release.

Roadside sign says "Wildfire Recovery Work Expect Delays Completion Summer 2022"


Click on graphic for tableau.

Oregon reports 433 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths

There are five new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,665, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 433 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 200,632.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 30,898 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 16,334 doses were administered on May 27 and 14,564 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on May 27. Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize.

The seven-day running average is now 28,503 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 2,171,355 first and second doses of Pfizer, 1,584,788 first and second doses of Moderna and 140,073 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, 1,811,098 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. There are 2,218,243 people who have had at least one dose.

To date, 2,706,796 doses of Pfizer, 2,103,540 doses of Moderna and 291,100 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change.

OHA’s dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (2), Benton (1), Clackamas (53), Clatsop (3), Columbia (8), Coos (2), Crook (2), Curry (1), Deschutes (40), Douglas (26), Gilliam (1), Harney (6), Hood River (1), Jackson (14), Jefferson (9), Josephine (6), Klamath (14), Lane (21), Linn (21), Malheur (6), Marion (45), Morrow (1), Multnomah (66), Polk (13), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (16), Union (3), Wasco (4), Washington (40) and Yamhill (7).

Oregon’s 2,661st death is a 68-year-old woman from Josephine county who tested positive on May 4 and died on May 26 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,662nd COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman from Marion County who tested positive on May 7 and died on May 26 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,663rd COVID-19 death is an 86-year-old woman from Washington County who tested positive on May 11 and died on May 17 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,664th COVID-19 death is a 50-year-old man from Multnomah County who tested positive on May 11 and died on May 24 at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 2,665th COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old woman from Multnomah County who tested positive on May 9 and died on May 27 at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 260, which is four more than yesterday. There are 59 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is nine fewer than yesterday.

The total number of COVID-19 positive patient bed-days in the most recent seven days is 1,835, which is a 17.9% decrease from the previous seven days. The peak daily number of beds occupied by COVID-19 positive patients in the most recent seven days is 274.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations   

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage (English or Spanish), which has a breakdown of distribution and other information.