Month: October 2021

COVID-19 vaccination clinic Thursday

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A drive-through COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic will be held Thursday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, 790 NW 9th St. in Ontario. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson boosters will be available, as well as all doses of all three vaccines, and vaccine recipients will receive a $25 gift card.

Enter through the southern entrance to the fairgrounds, off 9th Street, and follow signage and verbal instructions. There will be two lines for vaccines, in an effort to move the line more quickly, but don’t forget to allow for an observation period lasting 15 minutes after your injection.

Reminder: if you have already received a dose, or two doses of vaccine, please bring your vaccine card, or show a photo of your vaccine card, to save time.

For information about who qualifies for a booster dose, follow the links on this post.

This will be the last drive-through event at the fairgrounds this year, due to cooler temperatures.

Get a COVID-19 vaccine – and EOCCO will reward you with a $200 Amazon gift card!

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Get a COVID-19 vaccine – get a $200 Amazon gift card!

Starting Oct. 1, 2021, the first 200 EOCCO members to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and fill out our online form will receive a $200 Amazon gift card. EOCCO is for people enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) who live in the eastern Oregon counties EOCCO serves, including Malheur county.

Your first vaccine dose must be received on or after Oct. 1 2021 in order to be eligible for the gift card.

You can make the choice to keep yourself and those around you safe by getting the shot.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Call your doctor or visit the Get Vaccinated Oregon website to find a vaccine site near you or visit the MCHD vaccine list of providers here.
  • Let us know when you’ve received your first COVID-19 vaccine dose by filling out the form linked below. You can also call us at 888-788-9821 (TTY users, call 711) to give this information.
  • Wait for an email from EOCCO confirming that you can receive a gift card.
  • Look for your Amazon gift card in the mail or in your email inbox.

More information about the vaccine and how many gift cards are left can be found here. EOCCO encourages all members to get their second dose if they received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Please keep in mind that by clicking the link below, you will be directed to a third-party website (Constant Contact) to complete the online form. Certain pieces of protected health information (PHI) will be requested to complete the form. Constant Contact may keep the data you submit to complete the form. You can view Constant Contact’s Privacy Policy here. 

Information entered into this form will be shared with EOCCO. You can view EOCCO’s privacy policy here. If you prefer to share this information directly with EOCCO, please call Customer Service at 1-888-788-9821 to complete the form over the phone.

By clicking the link below and/or completing the online form, you acknowledge that you have read and consent to the privacy policies listed above.


Complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive online form here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/hI7mes8

Enlace al formulario del programa de incentivos para la vacuna contra COVID-19: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/VbKe4LI

Vigil and Community Outreach 10/27

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Memorial Ideas for Loved Ones: Holding a Candlelight Vigil

Nathaniel “Sean” Stringer, MCHD Health Promotion Supervisor, passed away last week. Anyone is welcome to an outdoor vigil to celebrate his life and work this Wednesday, 10/27, at 6 p.m. in the Japanese Garden at the Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 SW 5th Avenue, Ontario. The health department team is deeply saddened by this loss of someone who worked so hard and helped so many. Nathaniel was passionate about peer services and in his honor, and all those who help people in recovery, the Malheur County Health Department Peer Services, Lifeways, Origins Faith Community, and Drug Free Communities Coalition will have information to share and ways to connect to community resources at the vigil.

For more information, please call Peer Services at 541-709-8539. Lifeways 24-hour crisis services is available at 541-889-9167 or text “HOME” to 741741. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available 24 hours at 800-273-8255. In an emergency, call 911.

Moderna, J&J boosters available now

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The Oregon Health Authority team will administer Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses, as well as first, second and third doses of Moderna and Pfizer, first doses of J&J and booster doses of Pfizer today at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, 790 NW 9th St., in Ontario, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the same time, the Malheur County ICS team will offer COVID-19 rapid testing.

Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the ICS team will offer vaccines, including booster doses, and the OHA will provide COVID-19 testing, with results coming back in a few days.

OHA graphic repeats information in post.

More information about booster doses can be found here.

Information about which conditions make people more likely to get very ill from COVID-19 is here.

If you aren’t sure whether to get your child vaccinated against COVID-19, some information is here.

Some frequently asked questions and their answers are here.

Beginning Nov. 3, every Wednesday in November and December (except the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas), the Malheur County Health Department will offer extended hours in its clinic, opening from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for walk-in clients who wish to receive a vaccine (COVID-19, flu, childhood vaccines, etc.). Additionally, in anticipation of the FDA and CDC’s authorization of COVID-19 doses for children 5-11 years old, MCHD is planning Saturday drive-through vaccination clinics. More information to follow.

Every person who receives a dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines will receive a $25 gift card.

When can you get your Moderna booster?

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With the FDA’s announcement Wednesday that it has authorized boosters for the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, the Health Department has been receiving questions about when those vaccine boosters will be available in Malheur County.

There are a few steps which need to take place prior to delivering boosters in Malheur County. This graphic shows some of the steps:

Wednesday’s action was Step 3, and the recommendation now goes to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The remaining steps could be completed in the next few weeks, so watch this space for updates and information.

MCHD Recovery Outreach events cancelled this week

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Malheur County Health Department’s Recovery Outreach events will be cancelled this week. These events include Walk-Through Wednesday, Thursday’s event at Origins and Friday at the Bottle Drop.

Safe use supplies are available during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Health Department office, 1108 SW 4th St. in Ontario. For assistance, please call 541-709-8539 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If this is an emergency, please call the Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 or Lifeways Crisis Line at 541-889-9167 or 1-800-995-9169.

Walk Thru Wednesday cancelled this week

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Malheur County Health Department’s Walk Thru Wednesday will be cancelled this week.

Safe use supplies are available during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Health Department office, 1108 SW 4th St. in Ontario. For assistance, please call 541-709-8539 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If this is an emergency, please call the Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 or Lifeways Crisis Line at 541-889-9167 or 1-800-995-9169.

Let’s trick-or-treat safely!

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The time for ghosts, goblins and sticky sweets is approaching faster than you can say “Boo!” OK, maybe not that fast, but it is time to start preparing for a safe Halloween.

This year, if you plan to trick-or-treat or hand out candy, please keep these tips in mind for a fun and healthy outing: 

  • Get everyone 12 and older vaccinated so they can start to build their immunity. 
  • Stay outdoors if you gather with people from another household.  
  • Keep six feet of distance from the zombie dragons and pirates you pass. Even with the best of intentions, it’s hard to predict whether a child will be able to maintain distance while trick-or-treating.  
  • Wear a proper face covering. A plastic costume mask is not a COVID-safe face covering. 
  • Remember it’s not safe to wear a costume mask over a face covering, but decorating a child’s face covering might bring an added touch of fun to their costume!  
  • Also remember it’s not safe for children younger than 2 to wear a mask.  
  • Pay attention when going door-to-door. If one house looks a bit crowded with fellow trick-or-treaters, try another house that isn’t as busy – you can always go back to that house later.
  • When trunk-or-treating:
    • consider arriving very early so you can be in front of the crowd when walking from trunk to trunk.
    • Leave space between your group and the group in front of you.
    • Allow the group in front of you to leave a trunk before you approach it. 
35,383 Trick Or Treat Illustrations & Clip Art - iStock

A few extra considerations:  

  • Choose practical shoes. Even little ones who ask to be carried on most days may suddenly find that they can’t walk a marathon on Halloween.  
  • Carry a flashlight or glowstick or put reflective tape on costumes to help other people and drivers spot little goblins and superheroes.  
  • Discard candy if the wrapper is torn.  
  • Bring along hand sanitizer to use when needed.  

A special note about the one in 13 children living with food allergies: The Teal Pumpkin Project helps make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive by asking people to offer non-food trinkets and treats that are safe for everyone. You can participate by placing a teal pumpkin on your porch or front steps. Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) has more information about living with food allergies here. 

Lastly, a reminder to drivers. Please slow down and be alert! Kids are excited and may run into the street. It’s a good day to turn on your headlights early so trick-or-treaters can see you and you can spot them from farther away.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more tips for safe trick-or-treating here.  

Weekend peace of mind

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If you have plans for the weekend, but want to make sure you won’t infect your friends with COVID-19, don’t forget the free testing and vaccine event happening today at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, 795 NW 9th St., in Ontario.

In partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, Malheur County’s ICS team, will be at the Fairgrounds until 4 p.m. today, and every Thursday, offering PCS tests with results emailed to the patient, and all three COVID-19 vaccines for those who wish to have one. Pfizer doses will be available to anyone age 12 and up (with parental consent required for those age 12-15). Pfizer third doses and booster doses will also be available to those who qualify. Details are here. Moderna doses will be available for people age 18 and up, and third doses are available for those who qualify. Booster doses are not yet approved for Moderna. J&J is available as a one-dose vaccine only at this time for ages 18+. $25 gift cards for every dose given. We hope to have Pfizer approved for ages 5+ late this month or early November, so stay tuned to malheurhealth.org for updates.

Leon is a Registered Nurse in the local Emergency Department. He sees patients come in with severe COVID-19 symptoms almost daily. He recently received his booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and said he made the decision to protect himself, his patients and his family, including a son who is too young to be vaccinated.

Please share these flyers with others, and help protect your loved ones from this virus.

Free COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Every Tues & Thurs in October

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For the next three weeks of October, the Malheur County ICS team, in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, will host free COVID-19 testing and vaccine events at the Fairgrounds on Tuesdays (9a-4p) and Thursdays (11a-4p). Please share the fliers with details in English and in Spanish.

Anyone can be tested. On Tuesdays, there will be limited availability of rapid tests and Thursdays will have PCR testing with an estimated 2-3 day turnaround. We expect reduced rapid test supply over time that will be replaced with an increase in PCR testing. Please be patient! PCR results will be mailed to recipients, including negative test letters many are requesting. We encourage anyone with symptoms seeking weekly surveillance testing to go on Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Rapid tests are most accurate for people with symptoms, so we would like to prioritize our limited supply where it is most useful to people who are sick on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For vaccine, Pfizer is available for age 12+, including boosters and 3rd doses (details here). Moderna is available for age 18+, including 3rd doses (no booster yet). J&J is available as a one dose vaccine only at this time for ages 18+. $25 gift cards for every dose given. We hope to have Pfizer approved for ages 5+ late this month or early November, so stay tuned to malheurhealth.org for updates.

Click on the fliers below to open PDF version that is easy to share and print. Thank you!