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Margene Haworth, left, receives a COVID-19 vaccination from McMinnville paramedic Elle Miller, Feb. 5, 2021 at Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg, Ore.
Oregon quietly reached a monumental milestone last week in the fight against COVID-19.
First doses of the vaccine for COVID-19 have reached almost every nursing home, assisted living and memory care facility in the state, according to the pharmacies distributing it.
But it’s still hard to evaluate how successful the effort has been: Getting the shot is voluntary, and the state has yet to release data on vaccination rates for residents and staff in long term care.
Phil Fogg, the CEO of Marquis Companies, a health care firm that owns one of the largest chains of nursing home and physical rehabilitation facilities in Oregon, calls the vaccine a salvation.