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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 2020)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 THE OBSERVER — 5A First COVID-19 vaccines administered in Oregon By Gary A. Warner Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The fi rst doses of a COVID-19 vac- cine were administered in Oregon on Wednesday, Dec. 16, beginning a pro- cess that likely will not fi nish until summer. Two Portland area hos- pitals and one in Ontario took part in a live video feed of health care workers receiving the fi rst doses of the Pfi zer vaccine. The vaccine requires two shots about three weeks apart. Gov. Kate Brown said it had been 292 days since the fi rst COVID-19 case was confi rmed in Oregon. “This is truly the moment we have all been waiting for,” Brown said during the event. “The beginning of the next chapter of the epidemic.” The fi rst shots were given at Legacy Health and the Oregon Health & Sci- ence University in Port- land, and Saint Alphonsus in Ontario. The Ontario hospital said it started inoculations earlier in the day. “In the last two hours, we have vaccinated over 20 frontline caregivers, including providers, nurses, respiratory thera- pists, radiology techs and lab,” said St. Alphonsus Chief Nursing Offi cer Dina Ellwanger. Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen said the state so far has received 5,800 doses of the Pfi zer vaccine, with more coming in the next two weeks. If a second vaccine made by Moderna is approved as expected by the Food and Drug Admin- istration, Allen said the state will have enough vaccine by the end of the year to inoculate 100,000 people. For most Oregonians, the vaccine is months away — perhaps as late as summer, according to what health offi cials said during the event. The fi rst doses are going to health care workers and other facility staff who likely are to come into contact with COVID-19 positive patients or their waste products. The second group to get the shots will be older res- idents of nursing homes and other congregate care facilities who have under- lying conditions that make them especially vulner- able. Staff at the facilities also will be inoculated. About half of all deaths in Oregon have occurred in congregate care facilities. The additional rank- ings for the next set of vac- cines is under review with input from community groups, Allen said. Essen- tial workers and those over 65 with underlying condi- tions such as heart disease and diabetes are expected to be priorities. The forecast from The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, which is among the met- rics federal and state offi - cials use, forecasts at the death toll nationwide is on track to top 500,000 by April 1, including more than 5,000 in Oregon. Brown declined to comment on the forecast, saying instead Oregonians needed to keep up with limited activity, social dis- tancing, wearing masks and washing their hands frequently. VETERANS Continued from Page 1A serve as a place where vet- erans can meet with offi - cials from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Center for Human Devel- opment, Community Connection of Northeast Oregon and other organi- zations offering supportive services to veterans. “It will provide access to support services, which will give them a chance to grow and fl ourish,” said Bradley, who added that veterans will be able to stay in the homes as long as they want to. One of the fi nal phases of the Veterans Village project will include the installation of curbs and sidewalks and extensive landscaping. Numerous businesses, agencies and organiza- tions have contributed to Eastern Oregon Cofa Alliance National Network/Contributed Photo Volunteers with Eastern Oregon CANN pack food boxes for distribution to the local Pacif- ic Islander community. In their two previous events, the group delivered more than 8,000 pounds of food to more than 120 local families. Their next distribution is Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. HUNGER Continued from Page 1A increases the issue of food insecurity for those who lack access to personal transportation. Many in the Pacifi c Islander community also work in jobs that have been deemed “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic — food ser- vice and grocery stores workers, for example — increasing the pandemic’s impact on them. Further complicating things, Musrasrik said those in the local Pacifi c Islander community often are reluctant to accept help when it’s offered, let alone seek it out. Miscon- ceptions about immigrants in general, she said, make them reluctant to take handouts. “The effect (of miscon- ceptions) is just making do with what we can and trying to get by, so that’s why I’m helping with SESSION Continued from Page 1A Because lawmakers could be among the casu- alties or unable to con- tact Salem, the Legisla- ture would work under somewhat different rules, including a waiver on the normal two-thirds quorum of each chamber. In the past two sessions, Republicans used walkout to halt consideration of bills they opposed, denying a quorum and bringing work to a halt. Some lawmakers in both parties worried a remote session would erode the discipline to do business quickly and adjourn. That could lead to the introduc- tion of issues beyond those that have near-consensus as being able to pass both chambers and be signed by the governor. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Hep- pner, said he hoped the spe- cial session stuck to matters that were a true emergency and wasn’t used for things that could be handled in the regular 2021 Legislative Session set to start in just a few weeks. Looking forward to the 2021 session, he said he still had not heard much about what the months-long ses- sion would look like under COVID-19 restrictions, and he had concerns about how EASTERN OREGON CANN DISTRIBUTIONS BY THE NUMBERS Light-the-Night Lights Caravan Tour Dick Mason/The Observer Bob Haley of GCT Land Management examines an elec- tric fi replace Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in one of the homes under construction at Veterans Village Union County in La Grande. Join us Saturday Dec 19 from 6:30-8:00 pm for a or will be participating in Veterans Village Union County, including Ace Hardware, the Center for Human Develop- ment, Community Con- nection of Northeast Oregon, Eastern Oregon University Small Busi- ness Development Center Light-the-Night Lights Caravan Tour • The Eastern Oregon Cofa Alliance National Network held two food box distributions earlier this year delivering more than 8,000 pounds of food to more than 120 families each time. • The next distribution is Saturday, Dec. 19. • The organization accomplished the distributions with 10 to 12 volunteers who pack the food and deliver it in their personal vehicles. Guided Caravan to enjoy the holiday lights & decorations throughout Union County!!!! • • • • • • • • • This event proudly supported by The First Annual County-wide Holiday Decorations Viewing Caravan is HERE! Grab some cocoa and tasty treats from your favorite shop or coffee bar, jump into these food box distribu- tions,” Musrasrik said. “I’m making it so they sign up, it’s confi dential and I’m delivering it right to their door so they don’t need to come and get it themselves and ask for the help. I’m offering it and I will bring it right to you.” Eastern Oregon CANN held two two food box distributions earlier this year, delivering more than 8,000 pounds of food to more than 120 families each time. The next distri- bution is planned for Sat- urday, Dec. 19. Musrasrik said the group accomplished the distributions with 10 to 12 volunteers who pack the food and deliver it in their personal vehicles. “I think that’s just our mindset as Pacifi c Islanders,” Musrasrik said. “It’s very different from the American attitude of ‘every man for himself.’ I think we have that village mindset of we don’t leave people behind, we help each other as much as we can, even if we don’t have a lot.” Local residents who are willing to offer help with the food box distributions can reach out to Musrasrik at tyanam@eocann.org to volunteer. Volunteers can help pack food boxes or deliver them in their vehicles. the Legislature would bal- ance safety measures with preserving Oregonians’ First Amendment rights to testify at public hearings and their rights to access government offi cials and witness public proceedings. A statement released by House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner, D-Portland addressed the goals — but also some of the fi ssures — leading to the special session in December. “It is no secret that House Democrats have pro- posed a number of other urgently needed COVID relief bills,” she said. “While I’m disappointed we won’t be able to con- sider them all in this special session, we stand ready to pass these supports quickly during the 2021 legislative session. Smith Warner also said while House Dem- ocrats would have pre- ferred avoiding infection by having a remote session, she and her caucus were ready to come to Salem despite the personal risk of exposure to COVID-19 “Legislators have an essential duty to show up when our neighbors need it most,” she said. “I am con- fi dent that robust safety pro- tocols will be in place to ensure the health and well- being of everyone.” Oregon and other state legislatures around the nation have watched as the Republican-led U.S. Senate and the Democrat- ic-led U.S. House have been unable to reach con- sensus on relief legislation that must also be signed by President Donald Trump. and the Oregon Youth Authority’s Camp River- bend Youth Transitional Facility, all based in La Grande, plus the Confed- erated Tribes of the Uma- tilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton and the Oregon Department of Human Services. Need more information call the Union County Chamber at deck the halls in union county Four Different routes Saturday December 19 Car Decorating Contest - Line up starts at 5 pm in Bi-Mart Parking lot Staging at 5:30 pm Join us Saturday Dec 19 from 6:30-8:00 pm for a Bring non-perishable foods and a toy to donate and your Santa Letters 541-963-8588 Guided Caravan to enjoy the holiday lights & decorations throughout Union County!!!! STORAGE BUILDINGS www.CountrysideSheds.com • Happy Holidays! • (541) 663-0246 • Locally owned and operated for over 25 years • • 10505 N. McAlister Road • (Corner of Hwy 82 & N. McAlister Rd.) • • • This event proudly supported by deck the halls in union county RENT to OWN starting at $ 68 Month Aaron Cooper, PA-C—Adam Heisinger, DO—Stacy Iles, DPM—Ben Olson, DO—Arie Trouw, MD—Clay Hill, NP-C Surround yourself with the best team in town.
