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Lane County Public Health to use vaccines allotted to other providers for mass clinic Saturday

Lane County Public Health staff were caught by surprise when the state only allotted them 100 doses this week, but local health providers who were given more doses than expected will share their extras for a Saturday mass vaccination clinic for specific groups in Phase 1a.

"It's frustrating when our county receives such a small amount," Jason Davis, spokesperson for Lane County Public Health, said at a news conference Tuesday. "We are ready to receive vaccines, the biggest challenge is the supply chain, and I think our community needs to be aware of that."

Despite the shortage, Davis believes LCPH can gather 600 doses to administer this weekend. The University of Oregon will assist in event planning and coordinating. LCPH is not sharing the time or location of the clinic because it will be invitation-only for groups two and three of Phase 1a.

COVID-19: Lane County Public Health is allotted only 100 weekly doses from the state

These groups include those working in long-term care facilities, congregate care sites, hospice programs, mobile crisis care, correctional settings and outpatient facilities. Six nurses will administer the vaccines and one nurse will supervise for reactions. The clinic will have tents and a drive-up option.

Nova Health received 100 doses for each of its eight Lane County locations. It'll be sharing 450 with LCPH for Saturday's clinic.

"We've got to all work together to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible," said Dr. Marc Schnapper, Nova's Urgent Care medical director. "It has been a slower rollout than those of us in health care really wanted it to be."

So far, 7,295 people have received at least their first dose of the vaccine.

Case total climbs to 7,879

Lane County Public Health reported 101 additional confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, as well at six more people hospitalized for the virus.

A total of 30 Lane County residents are hospitalized, five of whom are in intensive care. The county is monitoring 544 people for symptoms of the virus, and 433 people are currently considered contagious.

There now has been a total of 7,879 local cases.

Lane County remains in the "extreme risk" category, along with 24 other Oregon counties, until at least Thursday. Last week, Davis predicted the county will remain in the category.

The Oregon Health Authority has yet to give clear guidance to LCPH about who is included in the next group to be vaccinated, Phase 1b, which will broadly include essential workers.

LCPH announced Monday that 100 residents have been killed by the virus.

"While I think any number (of deaths) is a tragic one when we passed that 100 mark, it really does remind us the toll that COVID has had on our community," Davis said Tuesday.

More: 100 COVID-19 deaths in Lane County, public health worries more to come

Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Lane County Public Health to use vaccines allotted to other providers for mass clinic Saturday

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