All Oregonians Age 16 and Older Are Now Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
April 21, 2021
This past Monday, all Oregonians who are ages 16 and older became eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Individuals meeting these criteria can use the following resources to get linked to vaccine information:
Updates to County Risk Levels Take Effect This Friday, April 23
Effective April 29 through May 6, there will be 23 counties in the High Risk level, three at Moderate Risk and 10 at Lower Risk. Three counties have been given a two-week caution. There are 11 counties, including Clackamas County, that qualify for Extreme Risk based on their county metrics, but are assigned High Risk because the newly created statewide hospitalization triggers have not been met.
As case counts and hospitalizations increase and counties qualify for higher risk levels, increased safety measures for businesses and activities will resume. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here.
Updates to Warning Week data and county risk levels will be posted to coronavirus.oregon.gov.
Remember to Take Good Care of Yourself
This week has been emotionally difficult for people in Oregon and all over the country. Not only do we have COVID-19 exhaustion, but we are facing difficulties together as a collective. We are talking to, learning from and creating change together, but the work is tiring. We are learning to heal from the historic trauma that have hurt marginalized people. The highs and the lows of the news can feel like riding a roller coaster, and it is easy to forget that we need to pause and reflect on what we need to be well. Here are some ways to take good care of yourself:
- Talk to someone who will listen with care.
- Play some favorite music.
- Take some deep breaths.
- Practice a hobby that you enjoy.
- Read a good book.
- Cuddle with your pet.
- Unplug for a while if you need to.
And remember that taking precautions to keep yourself and your community safe from COVID-19 is also a way to take care: wear your mask, watch your distance, limit your gatherings and wash your hands frequently. Visit Oregon Health Authority's Safe + Strong website for more resources, including how to contact the Safe + Strong Helpline and information in languages other than English. It’s okay to give yourself this moment to believe that things can be okay.
