January 23, 2021 7:30 a.m.
Aviva Health is holding a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination event on Saturday for Douglas County citizens that fall within groups two and three of the Oregon Health Authority’s Phase 1a vaccine prioritization schedule.
This includes health care personnel, those working in residential care facilities and group homes, people doing non-emergency medical transport, and caregivers, according to OHA.
The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Douglas Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. A release said this is not a public event. It is only for individuals that were invited to pre-register.
Aviva is working with the Douglas Public Health Network, the Douglas County COVID-19 Response Team, Umpqua Health Alliance and volunteers from around the county. As many as 600 people will be vaccinated.
Aviva CEO KC Bolton “We know our community is eager to receive the vaccination, and we’re doing everything we can to quickly move through OHA’s Phase 1a vaccine sequencing list so we can begin vaccinating the general public”. Bolton said it’s Aviva’s intent to make the vaccine available to everyone as fast as they can. Bolton said, “…we’re hopeful future allotments from the state will arrive expeditiously”.
Early Saturday morning, Eddie Larsen of Aviva gave News Radio 1240 KQEN a tour of Douglas Hall to show how the event is set up. Larsen said after people check in, they ultimately are sent to an individual booth to wait for medical staff to give them the vaccine. Then those vaccinated will be observed for between 15 and 30 minutes before being able to leave. The individual spaces allow people to be socially distanced from others.
The release said Aviva acquired the supply of vaccines to be used on Saturday from Mercy Medical Center and intends to hold similar events for the general public as more vaccine is available.
DPHN pre-registered individuals who qualified for Saturday’s event and no more slots are available. A waiting list has been created in case of no shows, ensuring that none of the vaccines, which have a limited shelf life once removed from refrigeration and opened, go to waste.
The release said individuals who arrive at the fairgrounds without proof of registration will not receive the vaccine.
