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STATE & NATION TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021 BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A Oregon stands apart in some COVID policies ■ Gov. Kate Brown’s decision to put teachers ahead of some seniors for vaccines illustrates autonomy that states have Adding to the timeline troubles was a Feb. 3 federal Oregon vaccinates teachers court order requiring Brown before seniors. to immediately start vacci- California punishes hospi- nating about 12,000 inmates tals for vaccinating teachers. at Oregon correctional facili- Washington vaccinates all ties. About 28% of inmates seniors — and warns older had been infected with Oregonians against trying to COVID-19, compared to 3% sneak north for an early shot. of Oregon’s overall popula- Governors around the tion. The delay in vaccination country have issued edicts violated the U.S. Constitution during the COVID-19 ban against “cruel and un- crisis that often confl ict with usual punishment.” The state neighboring states, creating did not appeal the ruling. a national patchwork of dos Caplan, the NYU ethicist, and don’ts. said governors who deviate “States are all over the sharply from federal guide- place,” said Dr. Arthur lines risk cracking public Caplan, director of New York consensus. CDC/Contributed Photo University Langone’s Divi- “Why are elderly in group A COVID-19 particle is pictured in this image provided by homes vaccinated, but the sion of Medical Ethics. “It’s rarely clear why restrictions the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. elderly living on their own are expanded or removed. must wait?” Caplan asked Criteria are modifi ed without “States are all over the place. It’s rarely clear why rhetorically. “Why are teach- explanation.” ers more important than the restrictions are expanded or removed. Criteria are The COVID-19 pandemic grocery store bagger or UPS is the greatest public health modifi ed without explanation.” guy?” crisis in a century, made all — Dr. Arthur Caplan, director of New York University Political favoritism? Langone’s Division of Medical Ethics the more diffi cult by strict The governor’s objectiv- adherence to a geographical ity was called into question fi ction: The United States is ulation against a potentially are 7,900 times more likely to because she had received 50 distinct states. $240,000 in contributions deadly virus fi ts the bill. Hawaii is an island in die, according to the CDC. Gov. Kate Brown promised the middle of the Pacifi c. All but fi ve states followed from the Oregon Education All other states are con- Oregon would distribute the the recommendation, includ- Association PAC in her 2018 nected by land mass, with shots with equity. ing California and Washing- race for governor, a relatively demarcations of boundaries small portion of the $18.5 The decisions are neces- ton. sometimes a river or moun- million she raised for the sary, but the fragmentation Oregon did not. race. tain range, but often just a of evaluating a comparative Gov. Kate Brown decided Some union offi cials said 19th-century surveyor’s line. value of human lives through teachers, school staff and day The problem is the virus 50 different prisms, was care workers should be next even with the vaccine, they doesn’t factor in whether the going to be problematic from in hopes of jump-starting a might not go back to the human it is infecting lives on the start. classroom without wider return to school this spring the Idaho or Oregon side of vaccination of the public. The Governors and health by students shuttered at the Snake River. offi cials are human beings home with “virtual learning.” CDC announced last week The result has been 50 who bring their own beliefs to Brown argued that 153,000 that schools could safely states fi ghting COVID-19 in decisions. Any choice will at- educators and school staff reopen without vaccinating 50 different ways. Masks or tach a social value to people were a relatively small num- teachers. no masks. Open for business or groups. Brown also had Oregon go ber of people to put ahead of or shut for safety. Lockdown The start was the easiest the 795,000 Oregonians over its own way for age-related or liberty. part from an ethical stand- the age of 65. Oregon Public vaccinations. Eligibility was The states’ fragmented war point. Broadcasting estimated that staggered, beginning with on COVID-19 has resulted those 80 and older on Feb. 8, The fi rst shots were sent to about 86 seniors would die in a resounding defeat. No two weeks after the educa- protect doctors, nurses, and for each week of delay. corner of the planet has been other health care workers. tion group. The minimum It was a price Brown ravaged like the United age for eligibility would drop The pandemic took a toll on believed was worth it to get States. The nation makes up hospitals and medical centers the state’s future functioning. 4% of the world population, who saw severe illness and The governor and health of- but has accounted for 20% of sometimes death of the very fi cials portrayed it as a short the nearly 2.5 million killed people whose jobs were to delay. in the pandemic, according to save lives of others. “I know there will still the Johns Hopkins Coronavi- The long months of the be some who disagree with rus Resource Center and the pandemic had also shown so- this choice,” Brown said at U.S. Census Bureau. ciety’s weakest points. Nurs- a press conference Jan. 22. ing homes reported just 5% of “The harsh reality is we are Vaccine arrival leads to all COVID-19 infections na- managing a scarce resource new differences tionwide. But the often frail right now.” The political equivalent of residents and close quarters The blowback was im- herding cats has continued mean these residents account mediate. Senior advocates, with the arrival of two vac- for just over one-third of all medical groups and even her cines that could snuff out the deaths. Oregon is one of 10 own Governor’s Commission virus. The Pfi zer and Mod- states where more than half on Senior Services weighed erna vaccines require two of all deaths are from these in against Brown’s decision. shots, given about a month “congregate care” facilities, “There are 45 other states apart. according to the New York that are listening to the States have been allocated Times. science and vaccinating vul- a portion of the available vac- Residents and staff of the nerable seniors,” commission cine equal to their percentage homes were put next to medi- members said in a Jan. 28 of the national population. cal workers at the top of the letter to the governor. For Oregon, that comes out priority list. to about 1.3%. At that point, the states’ With the initial shipments, unanimity ends. state health agencies were The Centers for Disease sent a long list of recom- Control and Prevention mendations on how to parcel recommended that those over out the shots. But in the end, age 65 be next in line. About the fi nal priority list for the 80 percent of deaths from scarce vaccine was up to each COVID-19 in the United of the 50 governors. States are aged 65 and over. Ethicists call these “life- Risk rises with age so that boat” decisions — who, when while someone 85 is only and why someone could be twice as likely as a 17-year- chosen to live or die. An inoc- old to become infected, they By Gary A. Warner Oregon Capital Bureau fi ve years every week until everyone 65 and older was eligible March 1. Vaccine shortages hit every state. But media reports of 65-year-olds lucky enough to get an early appointment at mass inoculation sites like Disneyland and Dodger Stadium in California stoked resentment in Oregon. “States are amending their criteria of who is eligible — sometimes adding millions of people — but without any additional supply,” Caplan said. The differences between states were inexplicable to someone who was eligible across the country, but not in their own hometown. “It erodes public trust,” Caplan said. “In the end, it comes down to ‘I’m just going to do whatever I have to do to get a shot.’” Also souring the public mood were reports of well- connected people getting shots through dubious eligi- bility. In Oregon, Providence Health included its board of directors — which includes large donors — in the medi- cal group at the top of the list. “We all hate people who butt in line,” Brown said when told of the action. Brown, 60, said on Feb. 18 that she had not been vac- cinated. Under her current plan, there is no timeline for when she would become eligible. Often overlooked was the sheer size of the national effort to eventually offer vac- cination to the estimated 333 million Americans. President Joe Biden made headlines with a promise to put 100 million shots into Americans’ arms in his fi rst 100 days in offi ce. Since the current vaccines require two shots, the promise covers only 50 million people. At that pace, vaccination eligibil- ity for some Americans will stretch into 2022. Vaccinating children Problems ahead include getting a vaccine that is safe for children. The current vac- cines are only recommended for those 16 and over. New vaccines could signifi - cantly shorten the timeline. The estimates also don’t take into account Americans who decline to get vaccinated. Some estimates put the refusal rate at 30 percent. Caplan says that is the issue that looms large in the future. “The focus now is on who is getting the vaccine,” he said. “At some point the question will be who is not getting the vaccine.” States will have to navi- gate legal and ethical ques- tion on treatment of those who do not get vaccinated. Israel has vaccinated al- most half its population and is planning laws and rules for post-pandemic activity. Is- raelis who are vaccinated re- ceived a “Green Badge” — a certifi cate with a unique QR code, according to the Associ- ated Press. When museums, concert halls, theaters and other public venues reopen, the “Green Badge” will be required to get inside. Caplan said a similar system could be used in the United States for everything from football stadiums to neighborhood bars. How far the prohibitions facing those who go unvac- cinated will be is an ethical debate still over the horizon for now. “Can you require vaccina- tion for a job?” Caplan said. “It’s problematic. But it is a question that’s coming.” Winter is here! Cold weather can mean icy spots in shaded areas! VACCINATIONS Continued from Page 3A Critics said even a short delay that led to an avoidable death was wrong, with unoffi cial estimates putting the pos- sible deaths from the two-week delay at up to 100. OHA said it would issue updated guidance on the availabil- ity of vaccine and the various ways to sign up and receive a notifi cation when a resident’s eligibility group comes up. We’re now offering home remodels through the winter months as we’re fully licensed and bonded. 541-519-5268 2390 Broadway, Baker City 541-523-5223 Call or come see us at Lew Bros Tire in Baker City Limited time offer. While supplies last. Discount applies to a set of four select tires and depends on tire size and type. Cannot combine with other offers. Details at LesSchwab.com. Lew Brothers Tire Service 541-523-3679 stone.elitesprinklernland@gmail.com 210 Bridge St. Baker City, OR CCB#231936 LCB# 9809