THE BULLETIN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021 A7
Vaccines
Kerry Gillette, a
physician assistant
with Mosaic Med-
ical, fills syringes
with the Moderna
vaccine during a
COVID-19 vaccina-
tion clinic at Beth-
lehem Inn in Bend.
Continued from A1
A third vaccine, being devel-
oped by Johnson & Johnson,
requires just one inoculation,
though initial reports show its
effectiveness is somewhat less
than the Pfizer and Moderna
doses. A panel of health ex-
perts endorsed the Johnson &
Johnson vaccine Friday.
Logistical bottlenecks are be-
ing cleared and Biden is bring-
ing in more help for states.
In Oregon, Phase 1 vaccine
eligibility, which covers about
1.36 million people, reaches its
last eligibility milestone Mon-
day, when those age 65-69 can
make appointments.
The state then plans to used
most of March to catch up with
some of the Phase 1 backlog.
Phase 2 eligibility begins
March 29, when residents 45-
64 with medical conditions
that the U.S. Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention
defines as making them more
likely to become seriously ill or
die if infected with COVID-19,
can sign-up. Conditions in-
clude Type 2 diabetes, cancer,
heart conditions, kidney dis-
ease, COPD, Down syndrome,
compromised immune systems
and sickle cell disease. Preg-
nancy is on the list, as is obesity
that results in a Body Mass In-
dex (BMI) of 30 or more.
Residents should consult
with their doctors and with
the full explanation of quali-
fying conditions on the CDC
and Oregon Health Authority
Ryan Brennecke/
The Bulletin
websites.
Also eligible on March 29
are some farm and food indus-
try workers, homeless people,
residents of low-income or
congregate housing, wildland
firefighters and those displaced
by the 2020 wildfires.
On May 1, those 16-44 with
medical conditions on the
CDC list can sign up. Also
front-line workers with jobs
dealing with the public, and
any adult living in a multigen-
erational household.
Phase 2 wraps up with any-
one over 45 eligible on June 1
and anyone over 16 on July 1.
No vaccine approved for chil-
dren is available yet, though sev-
eral are under development.
The optimistic scenario for
the future clashed with the re-
ality of widespread frustration
over the gap between eligibility
and availability. Brown and Al-
len forecast “chaos” last month
for the system of large vaccina-
tion centers and local pharma-
cies that will handle inoculation
of seniors across the state.
The central math problem is
too little vaccine for too many
Parking
Continued from A1
A property owner would need to have
a memorandum of understanding with
a nonprofit organization that could offer
case management services, which help
connect homeless people to housing re-
sources, get them signed up for the Or-
egon Health Plan or other services that
help people get back on their feet.
Something similar to the second pro-
gram is already happening in Bend.
Under the city’s COVID-19 emergency
declaration, property owners can apply
for a permit that allows for temporary
camping on private property. But once
Water
Continued from A1
Recent canal infrastructure
improvements across the re-
gion have helped irrigation
districts transfer water back to
the rivers, which helps improve
fish habitat.
Much of the piping is being
done by the Central Oregon Ir-
rigation District, a senior water
rights holder. The North Unit
Irrigation District, a junior wa-
ter rights holder, benefits by
having water transferred into
its system.
“COID is proud that this
conservation project benefits
our patrons and generates a
more reliable water supply for
North Unit Irrigation District
farmers in an environmentally
and economically sustain-
able manner,” Craig Horrell,
COID’s manager, said in a pre-
pared statement. “This proj-
ect is a win for farmers, the
arms.
Allen pointed out Oregon is
at or above the national average
of 15% of the populace having
received at least one shot.
But a look at the numbers is
daunting and at least for now,
disappointing.
About 1.36 million people
in Oregon are in Phase 1. Each
vaccination requires two shots,
or 2.72 million shots for the
group.
Oregon is not close to reach-
ing that number. Between the
vaccine first becoming available
at the end of December and
Friday, Oregon reports it has in-
jected 911,648 doses.
That would leave 1.8 million
shots needed to cover Phase 1
with a month to go until Phase
2 starts.
Oregon has ramped up to
about 20,000 shots per day and
forecasts expanding the number
of places and people who can in-
oculate those eligible as the vac-
cine supply increases.
One number that’s not known
is how many people are refusing
the offer to be inoculated.
Oregon Health Authority
the emergency declaration expires, the
program would expire with it.
At least two organizations have taken
advantage of the program under the
emergency order, said Carolyn Eagan,
the city’s economic development direc-
tor.
Dawn Holland, of the nonprofit
DAWNS House that offers transitional
housing for women suffering from ad-
diction, was the first to take part in the
program under the emergency order.
Holland was able to purchase four RVs
to be used by homeless families and put
them on a lot next to her nonprofit.
She is proud of what they have ac-
complished since November, though
Crooked River and fish.”
The transfer of water into
the Crooked River will help re-
store habitat and water quality
for fish that inhabit these wa-
ters, including reintroduced
salmon and steelhead, said
Kate Fitzpatrick executive di-
rector of Deschutes River Con-
servancy. Fitzpatrick added
that the project was a unique
collaboration between districts.
“This project showcases in-
novative coordination between
two irrigation districts and the
DRC to solve longstanding
water issues — the kind of out-
of-the-box thinking that we’ll
need to amplify moving for-
ward,” said Fitzpatrick.
The project saves 1,602 acre-
feet of water, the conservancy
stated. The saved water has
been transferred to 642 acres
in the North Unit Irrigation
District, a junior water rights
holder located around Ma-
dras. An equivalent amount
e e
WASHINGTON — The
Biden administration will im-
pose no direct punishment on
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman for
the 2018 murder of Saudi jour-
nalist Jamal Khashoggi, de-
spite the conclusion of a long-
awaited intelligence report
released Friday that he “ap-
proved” the operation, admin-
istration officials said.
“The relationship with Saudi
Arabia is bigger than any one
individual,” Secretary of State
Antony Blinken said at a news
conference.
By making public the intel-
ligence report — withheld by
the Trump administration for
two years — and taking other
actions, President Joe Biden
has moved toward a prom-
ised “recalibration” of the U.S.-
Saudi relationship, he said.
But for many lawmakers,
human rights activists and
Saudi dissidents, it was not
enough.
The crown prince “should
suffer sanctions, including fi-
nancial, travel and legal — and
the Saudi government should
suffer grave consequences as
long as he remains in govern-
ment,” said Sen. Ron Wyden,
D-Ore., whose legislation in
early 2019 mandated release
of the report by the Office of
the Director of National Intel-
ligence.
Wyden was joined in those
sentiments by a number of
Democrats, although others
spoke vaguely only of further
“accountability.” Few Republi-
can lawmakers ventured a pub-
lic opinion.
The Open Society Justice
Initiative, which has been in
court since early last year to
force release of intelligence on
the Khashoggi murder, said
“the U.S. and other govern-
Reporter: 541-617-7818,
mkohn@bendbulletin.com
ments must take immediate
measures to hold the Crown
Prince and the Saudi govern-
ment accountable for their fla-
grant disregard for the rule of
law.”
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Director Pat Allen said nei-
ther state or federal officials
are tracking who is eligible but
says no to the vaccine. The
higher that number, the more
vaccine is actually available for
those that want it.
Allen said OHA is still vacci-
nating Phase 1 groups who want
to be inoculated but have not yet
been able to get to a vaccine site.
Reporter: 541-633-2160, bvisser@bendbulletin.com
U.S. report implicates Saudi crown
prince in killing of Jamal Khashoggi
BY KAREN DEYOUNG
The Washington Post
March 29
• Adults age 45 to 64 with
underlying health condi-
tions, as defined by the CDC
• Seasonal workers, such as
migrant farm workers, sea-
food and agricultural work-
ers, and food processing
workers.
• Currently displaced vic-
tims of the September 2020
wildfires
• Wildland firefighters
• People living in low-in-
come and congregate senior
housing
• Homeless
May 1:
• Individuals age 16-45 with
underlying health conditions
• All other frontline workers
as defined by the CDC
• Multigenerational house-
hold members
June 1:
Adults 45 to 64.
July 1:
Everyone age 16 and over.
getting enough funding to pay for the
services it takes to maintain a program
like this remains a challenge and re-
quires constant fundraising efforts.
Even so, Holland said if given the op-
portunity to make it permanent she
would.
Holland said that no one who has en-
tered her program has returned to the
streets.
“We’re halting the recidivism of
homelessness with the clients we are
helping on a small scale,” she said.
Those interested in donating to sup-
port the DAWNS House program can
go to dawnshouse.org.
of water was then transferred
to the Crooked River, which
will increase flows by 16%
during the irrigation season.
The increased flows start just
upstream of Smith Rock State
Park.
“This project supports ju-
nior water users at a time when
water scarcity has destabilized
many family farms,” Mike
Britton, North Unit’s director,
said in a prepared statement.
“The reduction in pumping
costs will also be a significant
benefit for Madras area farms.”
Work on the canal piping
project was completed six years
ago, but April marks the first
month that the water will be
protected instream in the lower
Crooked River. That’s because
the Oregon Water Resources
Department finalized the wa-
ter rights transfer earlier this
month.
e e
Phase 2 eligibility
priorities
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Deschutes County receives more doses
Deschutes County will receive 2,340 COVID-19 first-dose vaccinations
for residents who are 65 and older.
To date the county has vaccinated 15,000 of the estimated 40,000
residents who are 65 and older with a first dose, according to De-
schutes County Health Services. That means about 25,000 will be try-
ing to sign up on the limited slots. The county had created a system
online that was supposed to open on Saturday, but instead will issue
guidance for residents on Monday, said Morgan Emerson, Deschutes
County Health Services spokeswoman.
If weekly allocations do not increase, the county estimates it may take
until early May to vaccinate all residents 65 and older, according to a
prepared statement.
“Unfortunately, due to limited vaccine supply, not everyone who is eli-
gible to receive a vaccine will be able to schedule an appointment this
week,” Dr. George Conway, Deschutes County Health Services director,
said in a prepared statement. “With current allocations, it may be sev-
eral weeks before everyone who is eligible is able to be scheduled.”
Brown said that pausing this
month will allow Oregon to
catch up on the backlog. “We
want to keep our commitment
to our seniors,” Brown said.
Allen said Phase 2 will be-
gin May 29 regardless of how
many Phase 1 people get inoc-
ulated this month.
Brown has been sharply criti-
cized for her decision last month
to depart from CDC guidelines
recommending the next priority
go to vaccinating those over 65.
In Oregon, 90% of COVID-19
deaths have been age 60 or older.
The governor opted to put
153,000 teachers, school staff
and day care workers ahead of
seniors.
Brown argued the school
group was small compared to
the nearly 800,000 seniors. To
wait would likely wipe out any
chance to get schoolchildren
back in classrooms in the spring.
Learning in the classroom is
overall far better and equitable
than “virtual” learning where
a laptop or tablet and internet
connection can be difficult
to obtain for poorer families.
Schools also offer hot meals,
and check in on children’s
mental and physical health,
while freeing parents to work
outside the home.
Critics said even a short de-
lay 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 up-
dated guidance on the availabil-
ity of vaccine and the various
ways to sign-up and receive a
notification when a resident’s
eligibility group comes up.
e e
gwarner@eomediagroup.com
Alan Saw-
yers, who
helps with
mainte-
nance at
DAWNS
House, rolls
up hoses
after work-
ing on a RV
unit at the
transitional
housing site
in Bend.
Ryan Brennecke/
The Bulletin