When will COVID-19 vaccine boosters be available in Oregon? Pfizer doses could be here soon

People 65 and older, and those considered at high risk of severe COVID-19, should receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, a committee of experts convened by the Food and Drug Administration recommended Friday.

But no boosters will be available to Oregonians until the remaining steps in the process are completed next week, officials from the Oregon Health Authority said.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine committee will review the recommendation Sept. 22-23. The CDC director will consider that committee’s recommendation and make a final decision.

Federal officials have not yet said who will be considered at high risk of severe COVID-19.

After FDA and CDC decisions, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup will meet, on Sept. 24, to consider federal recommendations for implementation in California, Nevada, Washington and Oregon. Once Western States issues a recommendation, the Oregon Health Authority will support implementation.

“Today’s federal review underscores the consistently rigorous scientific scrutiny that medical experts and health officials have used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines,” Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon’s state health officer, said in a statement Friday.

“While we wait for today’s recommendations to be reviewed by the next panel of medical experts, we want to urge every Oregonian who hasn’t been vaccinated to get immunized against COVID-19 today,” Sidelinger said. “Oregon has enough vaccine in place to vaccinate people who are unvaccinated and we’re ready to provide boosters when federal and Western States officials finalize their recommendations.”

Oregon coronavirus update, Sept. 17:2,099 new cases, 22 deaths reported

Booster doses have not been recommended for people who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is expected that federal officials will consider booster doses for people who’ve received these vaccines in coming weeks.

Pfizer booster doses are expected to be widely available through Oregon pharmacies, doctors' offices and clinics, OHA officials said. For older adults and others who live in skilled nursing facilities, their residences are equipped to provide booster doses once they are fully authorized.

Tracy Loew is a reporter at the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew. Support local journalism by subscribing to the Statesman Journal.