Oregon is just more than 76,000 people away from reaching the statewide goal of 70 percent vaccination rate.
The Oregon Health Authority reported that to meet the 70 percent goal, 76,089 people 18 and over still need to be vaccinated.
Umatilla County ranks third from last in percentage of people vaccinated at just 31 percent. Morrow County ranks fourth from last at 32.9 percent.
At a press conference on Friday, Gov. Kate Brown and State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger gave an overview of the pandemic in Oregon and the state’s progress towards its vaccination goal.
Brown said that more than 67 percent of Oregonians 18 and older have now received their first dose of a vaccine. “We are so close to fully reopening our economy,” she said.
When 70 percent of people have had their first shot, the state will lift most restrictions.
Oregon is also closing the equity gap in vaccinating communities of color, although the governor said there is more work to be done.
She reminded people who get their first shot that they will be eligible to win $1 million and other prizes in Oregon’s Take Your Shot campaign.
Daily cases, COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths, and percentage of people testing positive all continue to decline, Sidelinger said.
“As our breakthrough data shows – the virus is overwhelmingly impacting those who are not fully vaccinated – while those vaccinated are safe from the virus,” he said. “Just about every person now infected with the virus and who has required hospital care has not been fully vaccinated.”
For more stats on vaccinations in Oregon, go online.
