Posted on by Kaiser Permanente NW

COVID-19 UPDATE | May 13 Huddle Card

May 13, 2021

In today’s update, you will find important information, including:

  • COVID-19 Vaccine Update: KPNW Audio Broadcast
  • Pediatric Vaccinations Start Today
  • Real Talk about the COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Helping Vaccinate Salem’s Pacific Islander Community
  • Celebrate National Women’s Health Week

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: KPNW Audio Broadcast

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday’s KPNW Command Center COVID-19 audio broadcast. If you missed it, or want to review and discuss key topics with your team: Click here to listen to the audio recording (password: kpnw2021). Review the summary here.

Topics discussed on May 11 – Vaccine Update:

  • Welcome and Community Update | Wendy Watson (00:00 – 03:51)
    • Our three on-going goals: eliminate vaccination rate disparities; achieve an 80 percent vaccination rate for BIPOC, AAPI and immigrant members; and vaccinate as many members as possible.
  • Clinical Vaccine Update | Dr. Katie Sharff (3:52 – 16:07)
    • COVID variants
    • Vaccines administered outside of the U.S.
    • Interchangeability of products
  • KP Vaccine Update | Michelle Teeples (16:08 – 30:22)
    • Pediatric vaccinations
    • Vaccine hesitancy—what we’re doing to address it
    • Vaccine equity—summary of activities since last audiocast (April 27)
    • All4Oregon mass vaccination site at OCC
  • Q & A | All (30:23 – 42:00)
  • Close | Dr. Mary Giswold (42:01 – 44:24)

Our next scheduled live audio broadcast is May 25. In the meantime, submit your questions to the COVID19NW@kp.org mailbox.

Pediatric Vaccinations Start Today

KPNW will begin administering the Pfizer vaccine to children ages 12 to 17 years old today. Following are questions and answers to help guide patients and members:

  1. Q: What do I need to bring to a vaccine appointment for my child?
    A:     In Oregon, children 12 to 14 years old must be accompanied by either a parent, guardian, or someone designated by the parent and have a signed consent form for vaccination. In Washington State, the same is true for children 12 to 17 years old.
  2. Q: Are there walk-in appointments available for children ages 12-17?
    A:     Yes. In Oregon, children 12 to 17 years old can walk-in to the All4Oregon mass vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center. Vaccination appointments at all KPNW medical offices are currently by appointment only.

Interim member FAQs are attached. An update from KP National is expected later today and will be posted here on the COVID-19 Northwest page. You can also listen to the May 11 Vaccine Audio Broadcast recording or review the summary to learn more.

Real Talk About the COVID-19 Vaccines

Listen to real questions from people about their hesitancies around getting a COVID-19 vaccination. In this video, Kaiser Permanente physicians answer questions regarding vaccine safety, efficacy, side effects, and more – information you can use to help answer questions from members and patients. Coming soon: A version with Spanish subtitles, as well as short cuts of individual questions and answers for use on social media.

Helping Vaccinate Salem’s Pacific Islander Community

Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of COVID-19 infection among any racial or ethnic group in Oregon. Community health worker Kapiolani Micky – who works with KP through nonprofit Impact NW – has a mission to boost awareness and vaccines in her community. Read her story here.

Vaccination Quick Facts

Here is a snapshot of the most current vaccination data as of May 12. Visit the newly enhanced COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard for up-to-date, key data on the virus and vaccines.

Oregon Surpasses 2 Million Vaccinated

Oregon reached another milestone in the efforts to vaccinate Oregonians — more than 2 million people have received at least 1 dose of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. “Based on our current trends, Oregon is on track to meet our goal of vaccinating 70% of adults by mid- to late-June,” said Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director Patrick Allen. “Thanks to all of our partners for helping us stay ahead of a virus that is circulating in our communities.”

Meanwhile, in Washington, as of May 10 more than 6,046,656 doses of vaccine have been given. Most people are choosing to get vaccinated. More than 57% of people in Washington eligible for the vaccine have received at least 1 dose and nearly 44% of people 16 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

KPNW Superhero Award Winners

Individual Award: Leslie Sorweide, MD, Family Physician, Keizer Station Medical Office Building

Dr. Sorweide was one of the first volunteers to administer COVID-19 vaccines in Salem, prior to the mass vaccination efforts. Read more.


Team Award: Appointing Technology Team

The Appointing Technology Team has worked many evenings, weekends, and holidays with limited information, and technology that seems to change daily to get our members and non-members into clinics for vaccinations as allocated supplies become available. Read more.

The KPNW Superhero Award celebrates this excellence by recognizing the creative and collaborative ways your teammates support our company, our members, and community. Help spread the word! Post the KPNW Superhero Award flier in break rooms, and wherever teams gather for meetings / huddles and nominate your hero today!

Celebrate National Women’s Health Week, May 9-15

Join the WE@KPNW Business Resource Group members and supporters in celebrating National Women’s Health Week 2021. Take care of your mental health – stay connected with family and friends, connect with your community or faith-based organizations, make time to unwind and focus on activities you enjoy, and pay attention to changes in your mood. If you or anyone you know is experiencing changes in thinking, mood, behavior, and/or thoughts of self-harm, reach out for help.

Here are few other resources to manage stress:

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