Jan. 4, 2021
Some people may be wondering if getting a COVID-19 vaccine is as effective at building immunity as getting infected by the virus. The answer is that the body will build immunity to COVID-19 in a different way with the vaccine than through infection.
However, infection has the potential to lead to serious symptoms, which may prove to be deadly. Natural immunity, which is gained from having an infection, may not even last very long. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), natural immunity also varies from person to person and there is real potential for re-infection.
Vaccination is the best tool we have to help us end the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon and across the globe. The mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna give our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.
By getting vaccinated, wearing masks, washing our hands, staying physically distant and avoiding large indoor gatherings, we can help stop the spread of COVID-19. If enough of us get vaccinated, we can achieve community immunity and the virus will not spread so quickly.
Learn more at Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Vaccine page in English or Spanish.
Check out this video about the COVID-19 vaccine inspired by Schoolhouse Rock's iconic "I'm Just a Bill" cartoon. The video, created by created by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, explains the steps through Phase 3 clinical trials — and shows how a hypothetical vaccine against COVID-19 gets developed.
If you need to get a COVID-19 test, you have some options.
- If you have insurance, contact your health care provider or use the map on OHA’s testing webpage to find a clinic near you. Most insurance providers cover the costs of COVID-19 testing and associated care.
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If you need a free community testing event, you can find a list of upcoming events on the Do I Need a COVID-19? Test website. Sixteen free community testing events have been added for January, and more are planned. You’ll need to register and create a new user account that will ask for contact information. This will let you schedule an appointment for your selected event and get your test results. Because of the high demand for COVID-19 tests, an appointment and voucher are required for testing, one person per appointment. If there are no appointments available, please select another location and date. Only those with appointments are guaranteed a test.
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Need help? You can also call 211 for help finding a testing site.
Many of you have been following Oregon’s COVID-19 data closely and are asking great questions about it. On Wednesday, Jan. 6, you can have your questions answered by our data experts directly. Join us at 12:30 p.m. on our Facebook page for a live Q&A on COVID-19 data. Watch in English or Spanish.
COVID-19 has claimed six more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,506, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.
Oregon Health Authority reported 728 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 118,453.
Vaccinations in Oregon: Today, OHA recorded 2,550 doses of vaccine administered – including nine second doses – raising the state’s total number of doses administered to 51,275. This figure is based on preliminary reports of 1,663 doses administered yesterday, as well as 887 administered on prior days that had not been recorded.
All vaccinations occurred at Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).
To date, 190,500 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
COVID-19 hospitalizations: The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 477, which is six fewer than yesterday. There are 102 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is seven fewer than yesterday. The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (10), Clackamas (67), Clatsop (2), Columbia (10), Coos (20), Curry (2), Deschutes (45), Douglas (14), Harney (2), Jackson (40), Jefferson (6), Josephine (16), Klamath (31), Lake (1), Lane (62), Lincoln (4), Linn (10), Marion (79), Morrow (4), Multnomah (92), Polk (16), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (24), Union (4), Wasco (2), Washington (141) and Yamhill (22).
Here is more information on the deaths reported today:
Oregon’s 1,501st COVID-19 death is an 83-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 23 and died on Jan. 1 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,502nd COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman in Linn County who tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Dec. 18 at Salem Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,503rd COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 22 and died on Dec. 22 at Adventist Hospital. She had underlying conditions.
Oregon’s 1,504th COVID-19 death is a 47-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Jan. 3 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,505th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Jan. 2 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.
Oregon’s 1,506th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old woman in Coos County who tested positive on Dec. 24 and died on Jan. 1 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.
Note: Three Multnomah County cases reported in a press release earlier today were discovered to be duplicates. The three cases have been removed from the daily total, the state total and Multnomah County’s daily total reported above.
Mental and emotional resources for difficult times:
- Mental and emotional health resources are available on OHA's Safe + Strong website.
- Or call the Safe + Strong Helpline at 800-923-4357 (800-923-HELP). The line offers free, 24-7 emotional support and resource referral to anyone who needs it — not only those experiencing a mental health crisis.
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