Oregon Vaccinations of Seniors Lag Behind Projections

The percentage of Oregonians over 65 who have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine — two thirds — lags far behind the 80 percent that Oregon Health Authority (OHA) officials expected to be inoculated by March 31, reports the Willamette Week . That rate also falls below the national average of 73 percent for a single dose. County numbers also show wide variance: 80 percent of seniors in Multnomah County have received at least a first shot, compared to only 55 percent of seniors in Clackamas County. "We have seen a slowing of vaccinations for seniors in some counties as more populations become eligible for the vaccine," said OHA spokesman Tim Heider. "Obviously, we like to see 100 percent of our seniors to be vaccinated, and we have enough doses to accomplish that. Seniors can access vaccine through the existing sources." OHA now says it expects nearly three in four older Oregonians to have at least one dose by early April.