Lane County to follow Oregon Health Authority vaccine guidance

Lane County Public Health and Community Health Centers of Lane County today announced they will follow the vaccine guidance of the Oregon Health Authority as provided by the Western States Health Coalition. These recommendations are as follows:

Influenza: All Lane County residents 6 months and older should receive an influenza vaccine.

RSV: All babies 8 months and younger, as well as children up to 19 months with risk factors; all adults 75 and older; and adults 50-74 years of age with risk factors, should receive the RSV vaccine.

COVID-19:

• all children ages 6-23 months
• all children ages 2-18 years with risk factors, or if never vaccinated
• all children in close contact with others who have risk factors
• all who choose protection

Additionally, a prescription is no longer needed to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from your primary care provider or from a participating pharmacy.

The Community Health Centers of Lane County will be offering influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines to their patients based on the guidance listed above.

While these recommendations will open access to vaccines and hopefully alleviate some confusion, there are still many questions about which insurance plans will cover which vaccines. Currently, the only information Lane County is able to confidently share on insurance coverage for vaccines is that all Oregon Health Plan members will be covered for the influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines based on the guidance listed above.

The Oregon Health Authority has advised it may take a few days for pharmacies to start vaccinating, due to COVID-19 stock and ensuring safe implementation of the new recommendations. If a Lane County community member does not know where to get a COVID-19 vaccine, they can check with their health plan, local pharmacy, or call 211 or visit 211info.org.