Lincoln County is protesting the Oregon Health Authority’s decision not to send them any vaccine doses this week. Some rural counties were told to wait while urban counties catch up on inoculating 1A groups and educators.
Lincoln County leaders sent a letter to OHA urging a more equitable distribution process. Lincoln County Commissioner Katie Jacobson told KLCC, until now, they’d been kind of “rockin it.” She said they’d vaccinated 1A and educator groups and were getting started on seniors. The coastal county is a popular tourist destination and spring is coming.
“We do feel and sense that ticking clock of trying to get our community vaccinated before we sort of have this spring and summer rush of tourists that makes us vulnerable,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson added, because of their tourist economy, the service industry is a larger group that might take longer to vaccinate. She doesn’t think more urban counties would be asked to wait on them to catch up if the tables were turned.