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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 2021)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 | 7A “What that means is we developing plans to make agnosis, and those patients students, 236 off-campus have a lot of people who sure that both our staff and can then get care sooner. students and 20 faculty In the state, the vaccines are in phase 1A who would our patients were safe. And It also helps with contact members who have con- are being distributed in a need to be vaccinated be- we were able to take care of tracing, and most impor- tracted the virus. “We’re also doing our phased approach starting fore we’re going to get to as many COVID patients tantly it allows those pa- with healthcare workers. the rest of you. So, just as we possibly could,” Mc- tients to quarantine earlier part to educate our cam- and not increase the spread pus community members, Approximately 400,000 keep that in mind as we go Govern said. While the county is in of the virus,” Versage said. students, faculty and staff people are in this cate- forward,” Luedtke said. The hospital system is about the importance of Following this, each of what is called “surge pro- gory, and Lane County is mask wear- still vaccinating people in the speakers ing and phys- at the town Phase 1A. “We know it’s been a year of COVID, and everyone is exhausted. ical distanc- During the town hall, hall got a to But please hang in there with us right now with this more infec- ing. We will Lane County Senior Pub- chance about tious strain in our backyard. It’s extra important for us to all hang continue to lic Health Officer Patrick talk Luedtke, MD, MPH, talk- their organi- in there, continue to mask, continue to social distance, continue to do so even as the vac- ed about both the vaccine zation. D a v i s wash your hands, and continue to protect our community until we cine becomes approval process and the available roll out of vaccines in the spoke next can get everyone vaccinated that we need to.” about LCPH county. — Dr. Jessica Versage, M.D., within our “The first vaccine trial and its vac- Chief Medical Officer for McKenzie-Willamette community,” Dillon said. plan- started in February in the cine The U of O U.S., which is really re- ning process, tocol,” its hospitals haven’t working on an education has partnered with health markable. At the outset, it’s which it began in 2009. “A realization in COVID been overrun, due in part campaign to inform people groups to offer drive- really important to know what an incredible achieve- is we can absolutely not do to the community’s pre- on news about COVID and through testing clinics and is willing to offer addition- ment that is,” he said. “I’ve this ourselves. This is not a paredness and the begin- the available vaccines. “This vaccine has been al locations to administer been in the medical space job for LCPH. This is a job ning of healthcare worker very well studied and it’s vaccines. for 30 some years, and I for U of O, PeaceHealth, vaccinations. “In addition, we’ve also McGovern paused at this very safe to receive,” she can tell you that we wait- Mc Ke n z i e - Wi l l a m e t t e , ed literally a few decades OMG, our EMS population point to thank county resi- said. “I would really like offered our assistance to for some vaccines that we and our entire communi- dents for their efforts thus everyone to know it’s very help coordinate the educa- important not only to our tion sector for vaccination are using today, and the ty,” he said. “And that has far in the pandemic. Dillon “Our ability to maintain hospital, but all of the administration,” whooping cough vaccine is been true throughout the pandemic — that every- all of our services and to healthcare entities in the said. “That will include one of them.” He said the quick re- body has played a role and take care of all our patients community, to support the K through 12 and ear- sponse in creating early we all need to be working … is really a tribute to the community vaccination, as ly learning, as well as the trials of the vaccine in the in concert together, rowing community. All of you who efficiently and quickly as higher education efforts when those vaccines be- have worn masks, socially we can.” same calendar year the vi- in the same direction.” Afterward, JoAnna come available for those He said the representa- distanced at your gather- rus arrived in the U.S. was an amazing feat, especially tives attending the town ings, sacrificed your time Kamppi, EMS Chief of the groups.” The final speaker was Fire as, by the end of the year, hall have been important with family over the holi- Eugene-Springfield two of the vaccines were partners throughout the days — the result of that is Department, talked about Stacy Chance, MD, the pandemic and on creating the two hospital systems in the emergency response chief medical officer for effective. town have not been over- aspect of the pandemic and OMG, who said it’s an “ex- He added that other a unified health message. how first responders have citing time” to be working Davis also talked about whelmed,” he said. vaccines are further along In the PeaceHealth sys- been able to get vaccinated on vaccination plans. in their trials, but not yet when Lane County re- All the agencies in- ceived its first doses of the tem, vaccinations went as part of Phase 1A. ready for the public. volved in the meeting talk- “At this time, we just vaccine, a little later than first to COVID units, then ed about how their plans intensive care and emer- wish we had more vaccines planned, on Dec. 22. Eugene-Springfield Fire have shifted as more infor- “Even though our dos- gency departments and out in the pipeline,” Luedtke coordinated with the Ore- mation has been available es that have been coming beyond there. said. “The decision was made gon Alert System to receive from the CDC, FDA, Ore- This led into a descrip- into Lane County have tion of the phased approach been somewhat minimal, I to continue to vaccinate vaccinations. Beyond that, gon Health Authority and for vaccinating people and think we’ve made good use beyond direct care, so that it facilitated vaccinations other agencies. “The information and we can keep vital functions for the 64 other emergen- the most ethical way to go of them,” he said. cy response groups in Lane plans are changing rapidly The county’s Phase 1A going,” McGovern said. about doing that. as we’re responding to the However, he acknowl- County. Luedtke spoke about population is approximate- “For most agencies, if disease and the availability health equity and making ly 40,000 people. There are edged how important the sure everyone has access to still a lot more to get vac- vaccine is to getting the they didn’t have 100 peo- of vaccine,” Chance said. community protected ple, they couldn’t receive “Our organizations, doc- health care, insurance and cinated. vaccination in that first go tors, caregivers and leaders “We have a lot of peo- against COVID-19. access. “This is a very precious around. With that in mind, all recognize how essential “We try to promote jus- ple that are doing the tice. We want to make good work of keeping our resource. We have not we took our smaller agen- it is to get as many vaccines sure that this is fair across county and other counties wasted one dose. We’re cies under our wing and to as many people as safely all population groups,” he healthy and safe. And so very careful about how we made sure that vaccine as possible. It’s important.” He expressed that only said. “We have in some that puts us at a unique po- tab vials and how we man- was going to be available to sense an ethical responsi- sition in the vaccine distri- age the end of our clinics all first response agencies the availability of the vac- bility to make sure that we bution process,” Davis said. to make sure that every in Lane County,” Kamppi cine is holding them back from vaccinating more of use it as efficiently and ef- “While you might see oth- last dose goes into an arm said. That meant 1,200 first Lane County and the state. er counties across Oregon by the end of the day,” Mc- fectively as possible.” In fact, on Jan. 15, Ore- doses of the Moderna vac- Until the supply increas- vaccinating different pop- Govern said. He concluded, “The vac- cine went to fire, EMS and gon Gov. Kate Brown ex- es, the vaccine disburse- ulations, part of the reason disappointment ment will feel slow for the that we are vaccinating the cines belong in arms, not law enforcement first re- pressed community. As of Dec. 22, rate we are is by virtue of freezers. And I think that’s sponders in Lane County. that the nation’s states approximately 14,814 peo- the number of people that all of our commitment, ev- They will receive their sec- would not be receiving in- creased shipments of vac- erybody on this town hall ond dose next week. ple in Lane County have are in that group.” Kamppi also gave infor- cines, since there was no Next, James McGovern, tonight.” received one or both doses Then, McKenzie-Willa- mation on a “strike team federal reserve of doses. of the vaccine. All of them MD, Interim Chief Medical “Oregon’s seniors, teach- are still in Phase 1A — Officer for PeaceHealth, mette Chief Medical Offi- model” of first responders with four subgroups under spoke about the medical cer Jessica Versage, M.D., who will be able to admin- ers and all of us were de- spoke about her hospital ister vaccines throughout pending on the promise of group’s COVID-19 effort. Phase 1. Oregon’s share of the feder- the county. He specifically talked system. Part of the reason there Following this, Krista al reserve of vaccines being “We have been very for- are so many people in about the incident com- Phase 1A is that the county mand PeaceHealth start- tunate in our county to Dillon, U of O Director released to us,” Brown said has a large medical infra- ed at the beginning of the have manageable COVID of Operations, Safety and in a statement. For Chance, however, the levels, where the hospitals Risk Services, spoke about structure, with five hospi- pandemic. “We spent a lot of time and the clinics had capaci- the university’s efforts to steady roll out of vaccines tals and many clinics and in the beginning of this ty because of all the efforts protect not only its stu- has been positive. urgent care centers. “This is really going to be of the people in our com- dents and faculty but the an effort that requires of us munity, and all of us work- surrounding community. DENTURE SERVICES INC. The U of O is pro- — all the organizations and ing together,” she said. McKenzie-Willamette viding free community the entire community. I’m LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED Open 4 days a week! took steps at the beginning COVID-19 tests to county really happy to be part of of the pandemic to partner residents through a pro- it, and happy to have all the with U of O to increase lo- gram which has the ca- partners that we do have in Here to serve your denture needs: pacity to test 4,000 people the community. OMG re- cal COVID testing. Dentures per week. The university ally feels privileged to play “We have run over Partial Dentures William Foster LD has seen a steady stream a role in helping end this 71,000 COVID tests. This Immediate Dentures Sherry, Offi ce Manager of COVID-19 cases since pandemic with vaccina- has been a huge support Implant Dentures “As a denture wearer myself, June. As of Jan. 22, there tions over the next sever- for our community be- Relines & Repairs Same Day I can answer your cause it allows earlier di- have been 719 on-campus al weeks and months,” he questions and address VACCINE from page 1A Monday-Thursday 10am - 2 pm said. The town hall concluded with a question-and-an- swer segment, which Davis said would be used to ex- pand the frequently asked questions page on LCPH’s website. The participants were able to give insight onto several of these questions, including on virus muta- tion, susceptible popula- tions, further queries on vaccination timeline and more before they each got to say one more thing to the community. Luedtke talked about the rate of infection in the community. “We are getting 1,000 confirmed COVID cas- es every 13 days in Lane County, and we have been averaging 1,000 every 13 days since Nov. 11,” he said. “This is the peak of cases, and it is a place that we really don’t want to be. We need to continue to be safe and healthy for sever- al more months until we move into more immuni- ty from infections and the vaccine and the weather gets better. So please keep that in mind.” McGovern added that people will be wearing masks for the for the fore- seeable future. “I do agree we can’t get complacent now,” he said. “We have to continue to do the things that have kept us healthy as a community.” Versage said, “We know it’s been a year of COVID, and everyone is exhausted. But please hang in there with us right now with this more infectious strain in our backyard. It’s ex- tra important for us to all hang in there, continue to mask, continue to social distance, continue to wash your hands, and continue to protect our community until we can get everyone vaccinated that we need to.” Each speaker reiterated their commitment to vacci- nating the community in a safe and timely manner as vaccines are available, with several speakers talking about the strength of the public health partnerships they have generated during the pandemic. “We’re working together to make sure that we are all working in the same direc- tion with the same knowl- edge to ensure that we can get vaccines out as quick- ly as we can,” McGovern said. “We believe the sum is greater than the parts, that we can do a better job faster if we’re all connected and working together than if we all stay independent.” People can access the recording of the town hall meeting at www.lane county.org/coronavirus. For information about vaccines, go to covidvaccine.oregon.gov, www.fda.gov/emergency -preparedness-and- response/coronavirus-dis ease-2019-covid-19/covid -19-vaccines and www.cdc. gov/vaccines/covid-19/ index.html. your denture concerns.” ~ William Foster, LD 524 Laurel St. 541-997-6054 Broker Your goals are my top priority. Let’s get together! LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS Tires • Brakes • Shocks Alignments Get Results...List With Richard. Richard Beaudro Principal Broker 541 991-6677 4325 Highway 101 Florence, OR 97439 541-997-7178 Call, Text or Email Cell: 541-505-1180 Alva@CBCoast.com 541-997-7777 100 Hwy. 101, Florence, OR COAST REAL ESTATE 1035 Royal St Georges Dr – Fairway frontage and solid, well built home with great golf course views. 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