Thousands vaccinated at The Expo

Feb. 13—The organizers of a COVID-19 vaccination event at the Jackson County Expo this week have the process so honed down they could give shots to 4,000 people a day, but a shortage of vaccine means they can't reach their potential.

On Thursday, 2,916 people received shots. The vaccination event for people with ties to health care, education and nursing homes continues through Saturday.

A total of 6,800 people registered to get vaccinated at the three-day event. People who aren't registered are turned away. The event is only for people getting the second dose of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine.

During the first hour of vaccinations Thursday, nearly 1,000 shots were given as a surge of people arrived, said Steve Lambert, a Jackson County employee serving as incident commander for the event.

He estimated The Expo's capacity is about 4,000 shots a day.

"We just need vaccine to be able to make that happen. So the single biggest thing right now that's keeping us from getting our county vaccinated is supply. We've got a system set up where we can distribute it to a great amount of people in a very short amount of time," Lambert said.

COVID-19 vaccine is in short supply across the nation, including in Jackson County. The state hasn't been funneling as much vaccine to the county lately as health care providers and residents had hoped. Some has been diverted to counties that said they were still struggling to vaccinate health care workers. Vaccine shipments come to Oregon from the federal government.

Organizers held a mass vaccination event at The Expo in January where 7,300 people with ties to health care, education and nursing homes received their first COVID-19 shot. People who can't get their second shot at The Expo this week are being given appointments at smaller clinics for coming weeks.

The Oregon National Guard, Asante, Providence, Jackson County and other community partners and volunteers have helped with both the January and February events.

Lambert said organizers learned from the January drive-thru event and made changes like adding more traffic lanes to smooth the flow.

Participants interviewed by the Mail Tribune offered glowing reviews of both the January and February events.

"This is an incredibly well-oiled machine. I'm impressed. It's amazing. All they need is enough vaccine for everyone," said a woman who declined to give her name, after she received her second COVID-19 shot Friday.

Another woman, who said she works in education, said she wanted to do her part to help the community by getting vaccinated. She didn't want her name used because she said the vaccination issue has become so politicized.

"The first time was extremely well-organized. This time is even more organized. It's awesome how all these people got together to do this. There are so many volunteers," she said.

Another woman involved in education said she moved quickly through the different stages of the vaccination event Friday. Her longest single wait was 10 minutes as she sat in her vehicle before getting into the vaccination area in a roofed, open-air arena. The woman, who also wouldn't give her name, said she was glad to get her second dose of the COVID-19 shot.

"I'm relieved. I'm grateful they're doing this and putting in so much effort. I hope everyone in this area can get it," she said.

The woman said she experienced only arm soreness after the first shot in January.

Doctors say a sore arm and other mild symptoms that may follow a shot are signs the body's immune system is ramping up its defenses.

In rare cases some people may experience a severe allergic reaction from the shots. Paramedics are on standby at The Expo to provide quick help. People have to stay in their vehicles in a parking lot for a 15-minute post-shot monitoring period.

Organizers haven't made plans to stage another mass vaccination event because not enough vaccine is flowing to the area, said Jackson County Health Promotion program manager Tanya Phillips, who has been helping with the events.

For example, if only 1,500 to 1,800 doses are shipped to the county, it doesn't make sense to stage a mass event given the resources it takes to put it on, Phillips said.

Vaccine is being administered at smaller sites scattered around the county.

Oregonians 80 and older became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine last Monday, and people 75 and older become eligible this Monday under the state's phased rollout plan.

However, the current vaccine supply isn't enough to meet demand from older people, who have suffered the most hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.

Local partners said they are working on ways to get shots for seniors, but the process will take time and is heavily dependent on vaccine shipments from the federal and state governments.

"We're eager to do it, but please be patient with us. We want to vaccinate as many people as we possibly can. And as that supply of vaccine comes in, that's what we're going to do," said Holly Nickerson, vice president of quality and patient safety for Asante.

Asante has estimated it won't be able to schedule first-dose appointments for COVID-19 shots in February. Some older people who already had first-shot appointments scheduled this month had their appointments canceled.

As information about vaccine availability becomes available, it will be posted on a Jackson County Public Health web page at jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/General/News-Information/covid-19-vaccine-1.

People can also call 211 for information, although wait times may be long.

Organizers of this week's event at The Expo said people who aren't registered shouldn't show up in the closing hours hoping to get leftover vaccine. Any leftover vaccine will be given to event volunteers, many of whom are active or retired medical professionals.

Registered people who come for their second Pfizer shot should wear a mask covering their nose and mouth. Bring your vaccine administration record, patient billing information like an insurance card if you have insurance, and the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card you received at the January vaccination event at The Expo. If you do not have your vaccination record card with you, your eligibility will be verified through a state immunization system, organizers said.

Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.

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