QuickTake:
Federal delays and shifting guidance have slowed vaccine distribution, leaving the county-run clinics waiting for flu shots. Physicians are also still waiting for COVID-19 vaccines.
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As flu season starts, the Health Clinics of Lane County has not received its seasonal supply of shots after muddled guidance from the Trump administration over the last month.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s respiratory disease season outlook predicts another rough winter, with high hospitalizations among people sick with respiratory illnesses. Oregon’s flu season last year was among the worst in 15 years.
“Federal distribution of this season’s respiratory virus vaccines — including those for COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — has been disrupted by changes to the vaccine recommendations made by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) during their September meeting, and delayed approval of those recommendations by the acting CDC director,” said Oregon Health Authority spokesperson Jonathan Modie.
Jim O’ Neill, the acting director of the CDC and deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, signed recommendations Monday, Oct. 6, allowing states to begin receiving doses from the Vaccines for Children program — a federal program that provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians can’t afford them.
About 30,000 people on Medicaid receive care through the Health Clinics of Lane County, operated by the county’s Health and Human Services department. The clinics, which span from Cottage Grove to Eugene, are facing major challenges as they balance community needs with rising costs and increased demand for services.
The clinics expect to get shipments of flu vaccines by the end of October, but don’t have a timeline for COVID-19 shots.
“Influenza vaccine has been less disrupted,” Modie said. “Oregon Health Authority is working with Lane County Public Health to make sure the county has enough of both vaccines to vaccinate residents who want them. If vaccine uptake trends in past seasons continue, we expect to have enough respiratory virus vaccines in Oregon to meet demand.”
Meanwhile, some physicians at the Health Clinics of Lane County continue writing prescriptions for patients seeking vaccines at grocery and drug stores, as some pharmacies remain hesitant to follow the West Coast Health Alliance’s guidance that prescriptions are generally not required.
Some pharmacies, unsure of the alliance’s authority and concerned about possible penalties, have been slow to adjust and are waiting for CDC confirmation, continuing to require prescriptions in the meantime.
Since the alliance’s recommendations, people have shared mixed reports of access with Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Some say they still face barriers to scheduling a shot at stores without a prescription, while others have made it to a chair for vaccination.
Other large clinics in the area, including Peace Health and Oregon Medical Group, have received vaccine supplies.
Peace Health is offering flu shots to pediatric and adult patients with Peace Health providers. The medical network plans to begin vaccinating children against COVID-19 in its pediatric clinics once shipments arrive in the coming days, but adults are being directed to local pharmacies for vaccines.
Oregon Medical Group is offering both flu and COVID-19 vaccines in its clinics for all patients.
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