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NEWS Vaccines OK’d for Kids
Vaccination sites across Central Oregon are opening up for children over 4 after approval from the FDA
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By Jack Harvel
Courtesy Bicanski via Pixnio
Children overfive are now approved to receivePfizer’sCOVID-19vaccine.
Local health care providers started vaccinating children ages five to 11 against COVID-19 on Monday, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the vaccine had met safety and efficacy standards in a clinical trial with about 3,000 children. The autho-
rization is only for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Neither the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine are approved for children, and no vaccine is yet approved for children under five.
In May the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12–17-year-olds. In Oregon 57.8% of 12–17-year-olds have gotten at least one shot of the vaccine. Over 77% of adults have gotten at least one shot in data last updated on Nov. 5. Just 634 children under 12 have initiated the vaccine process statewide as of this writing. The Mayo Clinic reported that the infectiousness of the Delta variant and uncertainty over how long natural immunity lasts has made it unclear when herd immunity would be reached with vaccination trend.
Public officials say that vaccination is the key to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed its availability to children.
“With today’s review by leading doctors, pediatricians, and health experts, Oregon parents and children can be confident in the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 5-to-11-year-olds,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said in a press release. “It is completely normal for parents and kids to have questions about vaccines––I urge you to reach out to your family doctor, health care provider or pharmacist and get your questions answered today.”
In Deschutes County the vaccine is available to students through primary health care providers and other clinics.
“If your child is comfortable and familiar with a local health care provider, a good place to start is to reach out to that provider to make a vaccine appointment or to stop by your school-based health center,” said Tamarra Harris, pediatric program manager at Mosaic Medical, in a press release. “Now that every school-aged child can be vaccinated against COVID-19, we are excited to bring a sense of relief to many parents and guardians, and those who work in education and child care.”
The option for children to get vaccinated could allow school districts to return to a more typical school year for the students without distance learning and masking.
“I continue to be impressed by our local medical community and their willingness to step up and create opportunities to help during this pandemic. I believe by offering so many local vaccine opportunities, families will have a wide range of options that fit their location and timing needs for their young students,” said Dr. Steven Cook, superintendent of Bend-La Pine Schools. “Vaccinating this key youth demographic is one more step in helping make our community safer, keeping our schools open for in-person instruction, and putting an end to the pandemic.”
Officials also implemented greater testing capacity this past week. On Nov. 4, Deschutes County Health Services, Central Oregon Community College and the Oregon Health Authority partnered to provide free rapid PCR testing in Oregon at COCC’s Redmond campus. These tests give results in one to two hours, and appointments can be made online or by calling 541-699-5109.
“COVID-19 testing is one of several important tools we have to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19 in our communities, along with vaccines, masking, social distancing and washing our hands,” said Dr. Laurie Chesley, president of COCC. “COCC is proud to once again partner with Deschutes County Health Services and the Oregon Health Authority to ensure testing is widely accessible to all Central Oregonians. Our campuses are always available to support public health initiatives.”
Noticias en Español Vacunas aprobadas para los niños
Por Jack Harvel Traducido por/Translated by Jéssica Sánchez-Millar
El día lunes, luego que la Administración de Fármacos y Alimentos (FDA por sus siglas en inglés) de los Estados Unidos anunció que la vacuna había cumplido con los estándares de seguridad y eficacia, presentados por un estudio clínico con aproximadamente 3,000 niños, proveedores de atención médica de la zona comenzaron a vacunar a niños de 5 a 11 años de edad contra la COVID-19. La autorización es solamente para la vacuna Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19. Ni las AstraZeneca ni la Jonhson & Johnson/Janssen están aprobadas para la administración en niños y aún no hay vacuna que haya sido aprobada para niños menores de cinco años.
En Mayo la FDA aprobó la vacuna de Pfizer COVID-19 para los menores de 12 a 17 años de edad. En los datos actuales del 5 de noviembre, en Oregon, el 57.8% de los menores de entre 12 a 17 años han recibido por lo menos una dosis de la vacuna. Más del 77% de los adultos han recibido por lo menos una dosis de la vacuna. Al momento de escribir este artículo, tan solo 634 niños menores de 12 años en todo el estado han iniciado el proceso de vacunación. The Mayo Clinic –La Clínica Mayo reportó que la infectividad de la variante Delta y la incertidumbre sobre cuánto tiempo dura la inmunidad natural, ha dejado que no sea claro cuándo se alcanzaría la inmunidad colectiva con la tendencia a la vacunación.
Los funcionarios públicos dicen que la vacunación es la clave para superar la pandemia de COVID-19 y agradecieron la disponibilidad de la vacuna para los niños. “Con la revisión de hoy realizada por doctores, pediatras y expertos en la salud destacados, los padres y los niños de Oregon pueden confiar en la seguridad y eficacia de la vacuna Pfizer-BioNTech para los menores de 5 a 11 años de edad, dijo la Gobernadora de Oregon, Kate Brown, en un comunicado de prensa. “Es normal que los padres y niños tengan preguntas sobre las vacunas –los exhorto a que hoy mismo se comuniquen con su doctor familiar, proveedor de atención médica o con el farmaceuta para que les respondan sus preguntas.”
En el Condado de Deschutes la vacuna está disponible para los estudiantes a través de los proveedores de atención médica primaria u otras clínicas.
“Si su hijo se siente cómodo y familiarizado con un proveedor de cuidado médico local, es bueno comunicarse con esa persona/lugar para hacer una cita y recibir la vacuna o ir a su centro de atención medica localizado en su escuela ,” dijo en un comunicado de prensa, Tamarra Harris, Gerente del Programa de Pediatría en Mosaic Medical. “Ahora que todos nos niños en edad escolar pueden vacunarse contra la COVID-19, estamos emocionados por brindar una sensación de alivio para muchos padres y tutores y para aquellos que trabajan en el campo educativo y en los centros de cuidado infantil.”
La opción de que los niños se vacunen podría permitir que los distritos escolares regresen a un año escolar más común para los estudiantes sin que se lleve a cabo el aprendizaje a distancia o el uso del cubrebocas. “Me sigue asombrando nuestra comunidad médica local y su disponibilidad para dar un paso a delante y crear oportunidades para ayudar durante esta pandemia. Creo que al ofrecer tantas oportunidades locales para vacunarse, las familias tendrán varias opciones que se adapten a su ubicación y a los horarios de los jóvenes estudiantes”, dijo el Superintendente de las Escuelas de Bend-La Pine, Dr. Steven Cook. “La vacunación de este grupo clave de jóvenes es un paso más para hacer de nuestra comunidad una comunidad más segura, mantener abiertas nuestras escuelas para llevar a cabo clases presenciales y para poner fin a la pandemia.”
La semana pasada, las autoridades también implementaron la ampliación de pruebas. El 4 de noviembre, los Servicios de Salud del Condado de Deschutes, el Colegio Comunitario del Centro de Oregon (COCC por sus siglas en inglés) y la Secretaria de Salud del estado de Oregon se aliaron para ofrecer pruebas de COVID-19 PCR gratuitas en Oregon en el plantel de COCC en Redmond. Estas pruebas ofrecen resultados en una a dos horas y las citas pueden programarse en línea o llamando al 541-699-5109. “La prueba del COVID-19 es una de tantas herramientas importantes que tenemos para reducir la propagación y el impacto de COVID-19 en nuestras comunidades, así como lo son las vacunas, el uso del cubrebocas, el distanciamiento social y el lavarse las manos,” dijo la Dra. Laurie Chesley, presidenta de COCC. “COCC se siente orgulloso una vez más por colaborar con el Departamento de Servicios de Salud del Condado de Deschutes y la Secretaria de Salud del estado de Oregon para asegurarse que la prueba esté disponible ampliamente para todos los habitantes del Centro de Oregon. Nuestros planteles siempre están disponibles para ayudar las iniciativas de salud pública. ”
Criteria Set for Managed Camps
With a growing houseless population, Bend seeks to quickly establish a managed campsite
By Jack Harvel
Jack Harvel
The Bend City Council set guidelines for a managed houseless camp at its regular meeting Nov. 3. The City is attempting to fast track the process, hoping to have an operating camp established by winter to shelter the growing houseless population.
The City is exploring eight different sites, but the most expedient option is to build on one of two City-owned properties. A proposed Ninth Street site faced extreme pushback from neighbors and teachers concerned about its proximity to an elementary and high school. Another site on Juniper Ridge is also under consideration, though it is also controversial among nearby homeowners and businesses. The request for proposals to service providers was intentionally vague enough that service providers could give site-specific plans and different managed camp models.
“We have a variety of sites that we continue to explore, and what we’re hoping to do, our plan here for the RFP is that when an operator proposes they’re going to tell us what the layout might be, do they want to do a safe parking site, do they want to do a Central Oregon Vets Village model, what are they thinking and what support do they need from us and also how are they going to talk to the community around that site,” Carolyn Eagan said.
Service providers are expected to refine their plans based on site characteristics and community input. Though there will be some flexibility, they have to meet some benchmarks. Camps have to include facilities and amenities including restrooms, showers, food service and trash removal, support services like crisis planning, case management services and coordination with permanent housing resources, and there must also be a comprehensive plan including a safety assessment, screening processes and criteria for expulsing tenants.
Other services may come into play if a service provider is working with a specific population. That could mean employment services for unaccompanied houseless youths, behavioral health services for campers experiencing mental health crises and substance abuse treatment for people experiencing a drug or alcohol addiction.
“You can see the list of other services that might be part of a proposal, but we weren’t feeling like we needed to require from every operator, because every operator may be choosing to work with a different population or have a different layout for how they expect their site to go,” Eagan said.
The urgency to create a camp comes as the unmanaged camp on Hunnel Road grows, gaining campers after ODOT and the Bend Police Department removed campsites adjacent to Colorado Avenue and Revere Parkway in October. The City served notice of a cleanup to the Hunnel Road residents on Oct. 28 to ensure the street can be snow plowed. Ninety residents and seventy vehicles inhabit the short street, according to service providers who attended the recent City Council meeting.
“When people say why are you moving so fast, why are you trying to do so many things, this is why, because
A safe camp site is marked by the City, along with signs from neighbors displeased about the camp’s placement.
Courtesy of the City of Bend what we have on Hunnel Road right now is unacceptable to everybody,” Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins said. “This is no way to live and that is why we need managed safe camping in our community.”
Bend City Council singled out an acre in Juniper Ridge called Crusher Site 2 as a centralized hub for service providers to easily access campers living in Juni-
—Megan Perkins
per Ridge, and potentially create another safe parking site there as well.
“It seems like this site is really ideal,” Bend City Councilor Gena Goodman-Campbell said. “It’s a really large site, and so the size of it alone and how it’s been flattened and cleared is conducive to having people come in and safely park and camp in that area and mitigate the concerns we’ve had in the past with things like fire danger.”
There’s no definitive timeline for when the first camp will open; it will depend on how quickly service providers can satisfy the criteria set by the City.
