December 18, 2021 8:30 a.m.

On Friday, Governor Kate Brown urged Oregonians to get COVID-19 booster shots to protect against the Omicron variant.

Brown said, “While we are all still learning about this new variant, it is clear from the experiences of the United Kingdom and other countries that we have only weeks to prepare before Omicron hits our communities and health care systems in full force”. Brown said masks, vaccines, and the efforts of health care workers, public health partners, and National Guard members “…have seen us through the Delta surge”. Brown said the same statewide, collaborative efforts will be needed to get through the Omicron situation.

Brown said modeling from the Oregon Health & Science University shows the state has about a three-week window to prepare for the next surge. She said boosters are the best protection against Omicron. Brown said, “The state will be taking important steps to make sure our most vulnerable Oregonians have access to booster shots and to make sure we are ready to support our hospital systems for another surge”.

Brown asked residents to get a booster shot by the end of January. She said she has directed the Oregon Health Authority to get the vaccine supply and distribution capacity in place to support that goal.

Brown said, “Boosters work, and are incredibly effective at continuing your protection against the virus and hospitalization. If you aren’t vaccinated, now is the time. This can be a matter of life and death”.

A copy of OHA’s Omicron Response Plan is available: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iszoxzoLYnU1fzRQ2vTWmsqq9Qx3tQwZ/view