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Many health experts initially thought immunity from COVID-19 vaccination or infection would slow down reinfections, but Omicron changed that. The increased transmissibility of COVID-19 has caused some people to be infected more than once. In some case, three or four times. Scientists are studying reinfection, seeking to learn how many times someone can be infected and what health outcomes are caused by reinfection.
Hospitals across Oregon are facing capacity and staffing issues related to high COVID-19 spread and other reasons, according to the state’s top health officer.
“Hospitals are stressed across the state due to patients with COVID-19 as well as other diseases, in conjunction with impacts on the workforce from COVID-19,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D. MSEd, health officer and state epidemiologist, during Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) monthly COVID-19 media availability yesterday, July 20.
OHA will continue to work closely with health systems to ensure adequate care for patients. Residents can help reduce the strain on hospitals by getting vaccinated and staying up to date on their boosters. We also want to encourage those experiencing non-emergency symptoms to contact their health care provider or local urgent care clinic before seeking emergency room care.
Sidelinger also announced approval of a fourth vaccine to protect against COVID-19. Novavax is a two-dose vaccine for adults and will be available in Oregon soon. Sidelinger also gave an update on hMPXV (human monkeypox), noting 32 presumptive and confirmed cases in four counties: Lane, Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas. For more details, read the media release or watch the media availability.
The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup endorsed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation for the Novavax vaccine. The vaccine will be available to adults 18 and older as a two-dose primary series received at least 21 days apart. It will not be available as a booster dose. OHA anticipates Novavax to be available soon in Oregon.
To find a vaccination near you, check out our blog, or Get Vaccinated Oregon.
We are making some changes to the Coronavirus Update newsletter, and we want to start by saying thank you.
Many of you have been loyal subscribers for more than two years, from the days when the pandemic began and the newsletter went out seven days a week. As the pandemic has shifted, we’ve shifted, too. Our goal has always been to provide you with COVID-19 news and information that empowers you to stay safe and healthy.
Thank you for reading, thank you for participating in surveys and thank you for sharing your stories and questions.
Starting next month, we will adapt again. We will publish the newsletter once a week, on Thursdays. As you may have noticed, we’ve also begun to share Oregon news and information about health topics other than COVID-19. As we move forward, we’ll continue to share health information and tips, including news about COVID-19.
For daily OHA health news and information, consider following us on Facebook and Twitter. And remember, you’ll still be able to find the latest data on COVID-19 in Oregon on our data dashboards.
Thanks, again. We look forward to continuing to support your health with news and information.
Dr. Andrea Lara, MD, MPH, OHA health advisor, answered today’s questions. We’ll continue to answer your questions on COVID-19 topics in upcoming newsletters.
Q: It's impossible to find bebtelovimab in Eugene. Why is that, when it's much more effective against current variants than molnupiravir? My family (in California) found it easily, and they all recovered quickly, including my 86-year-old mother with COPD. I'm trying to find a source for bebtelovimab so that if I ever test positive I'll already have my game plan in place. Is the state not recommending or purchasing it? Thank you! – Barbara, Eugene
A: Thank you for your questions, Barbara. OHA follows the National Institute of Health (NIH) COVID-19 treatment guidelines. When a health care provider assesses the patient, they will consider several factors (medical history, current chronic conditions, medications, etc.) that will determine which COVID-19 treatment will be most beneficial for them. Bebtelovimab is an effective monoclonal antiviral against COVID-19 and has demonstrated robust effectiveness against Omicron’s variants. Having a game plan is a brilliant way to go. We recommend talking directly with your health care provider to establish what would be the best COVID-19 treatment choice for you.
As for finding bebtelovimab, the federal government's COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator can help you find sites that have therapeutics in stock. Click on the magnifying glass in the top right corner of the map, enter your city or ZIP code, and it should show sites that have therapeutics, including bebtelovimab. Right now it’s showing one place in Eugene that has bebtelovimab in stock – Oak Street Medical. Please note, this tool is only for you to see where these medications are in stock, and only your health care provider can call sites to verify supply or services.
Q: I’m curious on guidance around Paxlovid. My husband, daughter and I all have COVID-19 right now. Our PCPs will not write us a prescription, and our pediatrician detailed that only if a child is hospitalized will they prescribe an antiviral. Is this due to low supply and availability? I thought the purpose of the antiviral was to help keep people out of the hospital, so to wait until they’re there seems counterintuitive. I also thought I just read Oregon is working to have pharmacists OK’d to prescribe Paxlovid. I’m just unclear and confused on why people cannot access. Thank you! – Anne, OHA Facebook page
A: Hello Anne, I am sorry to hear your family has COVID-19. There is no shortage of oral antivirals in Oregon. The main purpose of oral antivirals is to reduce hospitalizations and deaths, and they should be given within five days of the start of symptoms. OHA keeps providers updated with the most recent guidance from the federal government on COVID-19 treatments, and we also host webinars for providers so they have the most recent updates. Ultimately, it’s up to your health care provider to determine if you’re eligible to receive any of the treatments, including Paxlovid.
We also host community webinars so that everyone has access to information and remains informed. If you’re interested, please attend our next community webinar next Friday, July 29, at 12 p.m. You can register to attend on Zoom here.
Regarding pharmacists: on July 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid, with certain limitations. However, many pharmacists prefer to wait for guidance from the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, which will be reviewing this issue soon. For now, call your pharmacy to see if they participate and, if so, what documentation they need you to provide to be assessed for a prescription. Not all patients are eligible to receive prescriptions directly from a pharmacist.
I wish you and your family a speedy recovery.
If you have questions about topics related to COVID-19, submit your question here. While we are unable to answer every question, we try to address questions of interest to a broad audience. Please understand we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
 
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