The State of Oregon is still determining exactly who will receive the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine

When it comes to populations that will be focused on when vaccines are approved, it appears healthcare workers will be among the first in line.

A vaccination plan from Oregon Health Authroity released in late October outlines vaccination challenges, infrastructure information, and issues in healthcare equity.

The draft vaccination plan also highlights issues seen during the H1N1 pandemic with regards to populations that did not have adequate access to vaccination services, including the homeless, and homebound individuals who do not have access to individual travel.

OHA believes that long-term care facility residents will also see issues with access to a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as employees of those facilities who have had more difficulty in getting vaccinations compared to other healthcare providers.

The draft plan also notes that minority populations have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, a trend that was reflected in Lane County during the early onset of the pandemic.

County health officials made a point to increase testing within the LatinX population in order to more effectively identify cases within groups that were more at risk of being exposed to the virus.

Phase One, a time period where the vaccine availability will be limited, focuses on populations including “Paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home” as well as “other essential workers […] people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, including people 65 years of age and older.”

The plan further elaborates potential recipients in phaes one as EMS providers, dentists, school-based health center staff, long-term care facilities, medical assistants nurses and other healthcare professions.

Phases Two and three focus on the remainder of the phase one populations as well as critical populations and the general populations.

A long list of demographics are defined as being part of “critical populations” including the elderly, healthcare staff, essential workers, minorities and the elderly.

Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis says their agency has not yet received guidance from OHA on a vaccine rollout.

“We received some very loose expectations from the state but have not seen a definite plan yet,” said Davis, noting that the state expects to get 100,000 doses of the vaccine in phase one with healthcare workers and long-term care workers being prioritized.

Davis said doses will likely be administered through hospitals and pharmacies, with LCPH expecting to help administer the second half of the first round of doses.

The draft plan from OHA says distribution of the vaccine will be similar to the way the seasonal flu shot is sent out.

That includes “extensive closed points of dispensing (POD) events with the at risk populations outlined above as well as transitioning to open POD events with community-based organizations serving communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”

OHA also plans to add seasonal flu vaccination events to scheduled COVID-19 testing events.

Governor Kate Brown is expected to hold a press briefing Dec. 4 around 11 a.m. to address the potential vaccine.