The Hoodland Fire District (HFD) will hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic with
Clackamas County in late spring to provide access to the vaccine for
community members in the region. The clinic is tentatively scheduled for
Wednesday, May 12 with the goal of having 500 vaccinations to distribute at
the main station, located at 69634 Hwy. 26 in Welches.

“(The district) realized that there is an unmet need in the community for a
local option for Covid-19 vaccinations. Partnering with Clackamas County
gives us the capabilities to meet this need and help our community get
vaccinated,” HFD District Fire Chief James Price said.

The county has partnered with fire districts throughout the county to
distribute the vaccine.

“Clackamas County is committed to bringing a clinic to the mountain
communities,” Clackamas County Public Information Officer Kimberly
Dinwiddie said. “For the clinics we work with community groups to provide
access for people typically underserved at other events. We realize that in the

rural and mountainous areas of the county, going to the convention center or
airport in Portland doesn’t always work for our residents.”

Dinwiddie added the clinic was in the early planning stages and the date was
still very flexible.

“It all comes down to vaccine supply,” she said.

Supply chain issues on the federal and state level have impacted the
distribution of doses allocated for the county. Dinwiddie added that the county
will not know until two weeks before the clinic if the anticipated 500 doses are
available on that date or if the clinic will have to be rescheduled later in the
spring.

Price noted that HFD discussed working with the Oregon Trail School District
and the Mt. Hood Lions Club to coordinate the event, as well as the Hoodland
Senior Center to help provide access to the vaccine for community members
who need additional assistance with sign up or transportation.

The clinic will be held by appointment, available through the county website at
www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/vaccine or by phone at 503-655-8224.

Dinwiddie noted that the county will work with community groups to provide
access to underrepresented groups before opening the reservations up to
county residents online.

Dinwiddie added that reservations for other clinics have filled within the
afternoon of being made available online.

“We’re asking for people’s patience with the process,” she said.
Other clinics will be available throughout the county as more vaccine supply
becomes available.

“We’d love to be in the position to have ongoing clinics throughout the
county,” Dinwiddie said.

HFD will post information and updates about the clinic on the district’s website
at https://www.hoodlandfire.us and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Hoodlandfire. Information about the status of the
clinic will also be available through the county’s website at
www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/vaccine.