Public Heath Website improved to coincide with coronavirus vaccine rollout

In an effort to better inform residents, the North Central Public Health District has created a new website page that provides additional information about the vaccine and its distribution. 

Click here to go to the page. 

It contains information on safety, how to be notified when vaccines are available, side effects, and the overall state plan for battling the disease.

Wasco County was expected to receive its first doses of the coronavirus vaccine today, 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 on 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. 

There will be a parallel rollout of the vaccines in our area 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 earlier this month, noting there was an increase in people agreeing to get the flu vaccine thus far this year.