OAHHS Hospital Voice Spring/Summer 2021

29 Spring/Summer 2021 HOSPITAL SPOTLIGHTS RURAL VACCINATION EFFORTS  RURAL HOSPITALS STEP UP TO VACCINATE THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS In rural areas, vaccination efforts were usually created in collaboration with public health departments. In Umatilla County, Good Shepherd began holding free vaccine clinics by appointment. By early February, Good Shepherd had vaccinated 2,096 individuals with prime doses and 1,563 with booster doses. “Allocation projections are looking better for Umatilla County and our primary goal is to help Uma- tilla County Public Health to vac- cinate as many as we can,” said Devin Goldman, Quality & Infec- tion Control Director. Sky Lakes Medical Center continues to lead vaccination efforts in Klamath County, accounting for more than two-thirds of the total shots administered. In early May, Sky Lakes opened a walk-in vacci- nation clinic at the original Cas- cades East Family Medicine building, and the hospital has an ongoing multi-media communica- tions campaign using local voices to encourage vaccine participation. On the coast, Samaritan has led vaccine program efforts along with the Lincoln County Health Department. Clinics at Pacific Communities Hospital in New- port and North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City have vaccinated thousands of residents, according to CEO Dr. Lesley Ogden, who could also be seen administering shots herself. “The hopefulness is unbelievable,” said Dr. Ogden. “If you want to see a happy day, get involved in volunteering at your local vaccine clinics because it is amazing.” Dr. Ogden also praised hospitals for stepping up to organize vaccine programs with virtually no help on the state and federal level. “There are people doing amazing work, and we are getting it done, but that is with no help from a really coordi- nating entity,” she said. “It has been quite a job to do.” Dr. Ogden praised hospitals for stepping up to organize vaccine programs with virtually no help on the state and federal level. “There are people doing amazing work, and we are getting it done, but that is with no help from a really coordinating entity,” she said. “It has been quite a job to do.”