Governor Kate Brown today issued the following statement regarding the FDA’s emergency use authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine:
“In less than ten months since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Oregon, the day is soon approaching when this vaccine and others will help us begin to return to normal life. For months, Oregonians have made tremendous sacrifices to protect each other and save lives. We have lost too many friends and loved ones to this disease. We are in the middle of some of the hardest days of this pandemic.
“We have come so far together. Now is the time for all of us to dig just a little deeper, hold on just a little longer. Keep wearing a mask. Avoid gatherings. Change your holiday plans this year, so that next year we can all celebrate together again. The faster we can drive down the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, the sooner we can reopen our schools, our businesses, and begin to lift the restrictions that have kept us healthy and safe this year.”
The vaccine will next be reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP). The committee will review all available data about the vaccine and is expected to vote on Saturday, December 12.
The Western States’ Scientific Safety Review Committee will be meeting over the weekend to review the data findings for the Pfizer vaccine. Vaccine distribution is expected to begin in Oregon next week.
Source: Oregon Governor's Office