Are you a fire survivor? If so, you could soon be eligible for the vaccine

Jackson County, Ore. — Did you lose your house in one of Oregon's tragic wildfires this season? If so you could qualify to receive the vaccine a little sooner. According to details released by Oregon Gov Kate Brown's office, by March 29, those displaced by the wildfires will qualify to receive the vaccine.

"I was hoping it would've been a little sooner but it's great, I'm really excited and am definitely going to get it," Edy Westcott, Almeda Fire survivor said. Westcott who would also qualify in the same time frame because she is at high-risk for COVID-19 complications said the news came as a "breathe of fresh air" after a "horrific year."

Along with fire survivors, Brown has also noted the following individuals will qualify by the last day of this month:

• 45 to 64 year-olds with pre-existing conditions
• People in agricultural work like migrant seasonal farmworkers
• Food processing workers
• People who are houseless and those living in low income congregate housing
• Wildland firefighters who are gearing up for the next fire season

Westcott and her family have been living in a hotel since they lost their home in the Almeda fire. She said both her and her husband are at high risk and noted that becoming displaced in the fire made social distancing much more difficult.

"Getting the virus was one of the biggest concerns we had. Having to rebuild from scratch, going to donation centers, and being around a lot of people, that was scary," Westcott said. "The donation centers were trying to do their best to have proper standards for Covid requirements, but our amount of exposure increased a whole lot."

Westcott was hospitalized for Sepsis in Feb of 2020 and ended up in the ICU, the incident left her with damage to her heart. She also has an Autoimmune Disorder. She said their temporary living situation in the hotel has put her at an increased risk.

"When we moved in this weekend, I was really shocked at how many out-of-towners were coming for the weekend. I couldn't believe the hotel was filling up and it just really shocked me," Westcott said. "It put another layer of concern for me. We're on the third floor, taking the dogs out for their walks we have to pass by all of these different rooms and different people."

Westcott said food delivery is quite popular among the fire survivors living in the hotel because they don't have a huge kitchen.

"There's a gathering spot for food every day, there's a lot more interaction and exposure than we're used to just because we live at the hotel now," Westcott said. "I think the vaccine will just make us more comfortable being able to get on with our lives rather than having to feel like we have to stay in the house all the time."

By May 1, the state expects the following groups will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine:

• CDC’s definition of frontline workers
• People 16-45 with preexisting conditions
• Multi-generational household members

Officials said no later than June 1, most Oregonians over the age of 45 will be eligible. The remaining general population is then expected to become eligible by July 1.