COVID-19 web information is also available in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Spanish (click on the language to be taken to the page).
10/21/21 CDC Booster Vaccine information: Link to original Here
Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorizationexternal icon and CDC’s recommendation for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Americans safe.
For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:
- 65 years and older
- Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
- Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
- Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.
There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received, and others may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
Millions of people are newly eligible to receive a booster shot and will benefit from additional protection. However, today’s action should not distract from the critical work of ensuring that unvaccinated people take the first step and get an initial COVID-19 vaccine. More than 65 million Americans remain unvaccinated, leaving themselves – and their children, families, loved ones, and communities– vulnerable.
Available data right now show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.
5/5/21 Back to basic precautions to slow the spread
With all metro counties experiencing “high risk” conditions for the spread of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to practice basic precautions to help keep ourselves and our communities safe. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure to the virus. What can you do to help slow the spread?
The Center for Disease Control recommends you:
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
- Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
- Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to you.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
- Stay home and isolate from others when sick.
- Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and take other steps to stop the spread at home.
If you’ve been fully vaccinated, you may choose to change some of the precautions you are taking. Click here to learn more about keeping yourself and others safe after you’ve been fully vaccinated.
4/30/21 Multnomah County has released additional information about the safety of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, after recently readopting its use. Download the document: in English or in Spanish.
3/14/21 Authorized and Recommended Vaccines
As COVID-19 vaccines are authorized and then recommended for use in the United States, it will be important to understand what is known about each vaccine. CDC will provide information on who is and is not recommended to receive each vaccine and what to expect after vaccination, as well as ingredients, safety, and effectiveness.
Currently, three vaccines are authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19 (click on the name for more info):
Questions and answers on the latest approved COVID-19 vaccine, Johnson & Johnson (J&J).
Who can receive J&J COVID-19 Vaccine?
Like the Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines, the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized and recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.
How Many does of the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine do patients need?
All people for whom vaccination is indicated should receive 1 dose.
How well does J&J COVID-19 Vaccine prevent COVID-19?
The effectiveness data to support the EUA include an analysis of 39,321 participants in the ongoing randomized, placebo-controlled study being conducted in South Africa, certain countries in South America, Mexico, and the U.S. who did not have evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to receiving the vaccine. Among these participants, 19,630 received the vaccine and 19,691 received placebo. Overall, among these clinical trial participants, the vaccine was approximately 67% effective in preventing moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 disease occurring at least 14 days after vaccination and 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe/critical disease at least 28 days after vaccination.
Additionally, the vaccine was approximately 77% effective in preventing severe/critical COVID-19 occurring at least 14 days after vaccination and 85% effective in preventing severe/critical COVID-19 occurring at least 28 days after vaccination.
What information is available about the SARS-CoV-2 strains that caused the cases of COVID-19 in study participants during the clinical trial?
Efficacy of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated in the clinical trial reflected protection against several emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the Wuhan-H1 variant D614G (predominant in the United States), the B.1.351 variant (predominant in South Africa), and a P.2 variant (predominant in Brazil).
What information is available about allergic reactions?
In the study that evaluated safety in 43,783 participants (21,895 of whom received the vaccine and 21,888 of whom received saline placebo), hives was reported in five vaccine recipients and 1 placebo recipient in the 7 days following vaccination. In this study, there has been one report of severe hypersensitivity reaction, not classified as anaphylaxis, beginning two days following vaccination with Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. The event was serious and likely related to vaccination.
In another ongoing clinical study in South Africa, one case of anaphylaxis has been reported following administration of the vaccine.
1/2021 Update: Click here to see what we’re doing to keep our community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic
9/2020 Update: Click here to view Coronavirus/COVID-19 Questions & Answers
3/27/2020: A Letter to the Community from our CEO, Rebecca Ramsay
Dear patients, caregivers, family members and community supporters,
The last month has been unprecedented, to say the least. As COVID-19 extended its reach, CareOregon and Housecall Providers started preparing for what we knew was coming to the Northwest.
Our preparations have focused on how to care for our patients — the most vulnerable targets of the virus — while doing everything in our power to protect both them and staff members who would be going into their homes. At the same time, we heard from our state leaders about the need for social distancing and limits to visitors in facilities. Our biggest concern echoed that of health care communities across the U.S.: lack of available personal protective equipment (PPE) — including masks, gowns, gloves and goggles and/or face shields — which are essential to protect our patients and staff and prevent the spread of COVID-19. We quickly realized that our limited supply required that we temporarily suspend or significantly limit in-person visits across all our programs until we received the amount of PPE necessary to protect our patients, caregivers and staff. Currently, we are still waiting for additional supplies, but they are anticipated shortly. More
Our Commitment
The health, safety and well-being of our patients is our top priority during the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Housecall Providers and CareOregon’s clinical leadership have been working to create screening tools and procedures that will help us, as a health care organization, minimize the spread of the disease while we continue to provide home-based medical care to our patients and families.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet). Symptoms may include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
As a health care provider, we rely on the daily flow of information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as they monitor the situation. To learn more about COVID-19 or how the CDC is responding to the outbreak, please click on the following link: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.
Have questions? Want to learn more?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the situation closely. You can learn more here.
You can also call 211 or visit their website at https://www.211info.org/corona-virus for more general information.