© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gov. Brown receives Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine ‘to reassure Oregonians’

President Joe Biden got his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine two and a half months ago, a few days before Christmas.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee got his first dose in mid-January.

Gov. Kate Brown didn’t get her dose until today, but when she did, one shot was all she needed.

After emphasizing the importance of vaccines in recent decisions such as mandating the reopening of schools, Gov. Kate Brown pulled up her sleeve for a jab after over 700,000 other Oregonians had already done so. But while Biden and Inslee, and the vast majority of vaccinated Oregonians have received doses of the Pfizer or Moderna formulas, which require two shots to be completely effective, Brown is one of fewer than 1,700 in Oregon to get the new one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“There have been a number of rumors and misinformation about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine since its approval by the FDA,” Brown said in a statement accompanied by photos of the governor getting a shot.

“It was important to me to demonstrate today that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and effective. Plus, the fact that it’s only one dose makes it even more convenient for all Oregonians.”

Clinical trials found that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 66% effective against COVID-19 worldwide and 72% effective in the U.S., though according to thecompany’s research “the vaccine was 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease across all regions studied.”

Brown said that part of the reason for her getting the vaccine was to answer questions her office has been getting about whether the governor had reservations about the vaccine.

“Every week my office hears the question: If these vaccines are so safe, then why hasn’t Kate Brown gotten one? I want to reassure Oregonians that they should feel confident taking any of the three vaccines available to protect themselves and their loved ones,” Brown said in the statement.

Oregon is currently offering vaccines to five groups of people, including most recently, adults age 65 and over. Previous groups have included educators and child care providers, healthcare personnel, as well as residents and staff of long-term care facilities.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article had an erroneous figure for the number of Oregonians vaccinated. The correct number of people in Oregon who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is 709,974 according to the Oregon Health Authority. OPB regrets the error.

Copyright 2021 Oregon Public Broadcasting

Rob Manning has been both a reporter and an on-air host at Oregon Public Broadcasting. Before that, he filled both roles with local community station KBOO and nationally with Free Speech Radio News. He's also published freelance print stories with Portland's alternative weekly newspaper Willamette Week and Planning Magazine. In 2007, Rob received two awards for investigative reporting from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists, and he was part of the award-winning team responsible for OPB's "Hunger Series." His current beats range from education to the environment, sports to land-use planning, politics to housing.