Vaccinations for Older Adults
The One Community Health has partnered with National Council on Aging (NCOA) for the COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative Grant. The program is supported with funding from the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will support OCH’s work in making it as easy as possible for older adults and people with disabilities to get updated vaccinations and protect their health. OCH will use the funds to reach residents of the Columbia River Gorge with a special focus on vulnerable and underserved communities with trusted information and support getting to vaccine appointments. OCH will also host vaccine clinics and community events (visit our calendar HERE for updates on upcoming events).
OCH offers COVID vaccines to all community members. Patients, employees, and special populations can get flu vaccines, including those without insurance.
To schedule a COVID or flu vaccination, please call 541.386.6380, or click HERE.
Get FREE transportation to your vaccine appointment! For help, please call 541-386-6380.
Today, nearly nine out of 10 deaths from COVID-19 are among people 65 and over, and 70-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in older adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While lifesaving vaccines are available, research shows COVID-19 vaccine uptake has slowed among older adults.
Thanks to this grant, OCH will organize a robust vaccination program to address this challenge in Hood River and Wasco counties in Oregon, and Klickitat and Skamania counties in Washington. This program will add to the over 27,000 vaccine doses OCH staff have administered to date.
If you're 65 and older, you can get one more bivalent shot four months after your first one. Most individuals with certain kinds of immunocompromise who have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive a single additional dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months following a dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and additional doses may be administered at the discretion of, and at intervals determined by, their healthcare provider. However, for immunocompromised individuals 6 months through 4 years of age, eligibility for additional doses depends on the vaccine previously received. (Source: Food & Drug Administration)
Ana Moreno, Internal Medicine Physician
"The mission of OCH is to ensure access to healthcare for all. We are thrilled to provide these lifesaving vaccines to our communities. Our goal is to provide vaccines in long-term care facilities and other places where older adults and people with disabilities live,” said Ana Moreno, Internal Medicine Physician, One Community Health.
About the National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. NCOA believes that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, NCOA provides resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, NCOA is the oldest national organization focused on older adults.
Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.