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Deschutes County Health Services Provides Update on COVID-19 Vaccines

This information is up to date as of 09/26/2025. 

Concerns about rising COVID-19 cases and the recent change to federal vaccine guidelines have led to uncertainty and questions from our community regarding the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine. Here is what we currently know about COVID vaccine guidance and access. 

On August 27^th, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, limiting eligibility to individuals with high-risk health conditions and adults age 65 and older. Several medical societies made vaccination recommendations for additional groups of people, and on September 19^th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously recommended that COVID-19 vaccination be left to individual decision making for all ages six month and older. 

As a response to changing vaccination recommendations, the Governors of Oregon, California, Hawaii and Washington have formed the West Coast Health Alliance (WHCA). WHCA has provided recommendations for 2025 – 2026 Respiratory Virus Season Immunizations, which included recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine to be available to anyone 6 months of age or older who wants to be vaccinated. While a prescription for the COVID-19 vaccine was initially required in Oregon for pharmacies, prescriptions are no longer required. Medicaid, Medicare and most commercial insurance companies will continue to cover the cost of updated COVID-19 vaccines in Oregon, but we encourage you to check coverage with your insurance company.

Deschutes County Health Services does NOT currently have any COVID-19 vaccines in stock. We receive our vaccine supplies from the Oregon Health Authority, which is still awaiting details from the CDC on when the vaccine will be distributed to Oregon.  

In the meantime, community members are encouraged to: 

• Follow Proven Prevention Methods: Wash your hands regularly, clean frequently touched surfaces, cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home when you’re sick, and test for COVID-19, seeking prompt treatment if you’re at higher risk. Consider wearing a well-fitting mask in crowded indoor settings, especially when community levels are high, and when around older adults, young children, or individuals with chronic conditions. 

• Stay Informed: The West Coast Health Alliance (WHCA) aims to provide clear, science-based vaccine guidance and ensure people can access recommended vaccines during the upcoming respiratory virus season. Please refer to WHCA’s Frequently Asked Questions for the upcoming respiratory virus season. OHA will keep both the public and providers informed as more information becomes available through the OHA immunization website. 

• Consult Health Care Providers: If you believe you may be eligible for a COVID-19 booster or have questions about vaccine availability, please contact your health care provider or pharmacist, and consult your individual insurance plan. 

For more information about COVID-19, including symptoms and guidance on testing and treatment, please visit the DCHS website. You can also visit the Data and Reports page for our seasonal Respiratory Reports.

Community Partnership Spotlight – Saving Grace 

Standing With Survivors During Domestic Violence Awareness Month 

Domestic violence affects families in every community, including families in Central Oregon. Studies show that one in four women and one in seven men will experience abuse from a partner during their lifetime. These are not just numbers - they represent our neighbors, friends, and coworkers. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, Saving Grace invites everyone in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties to help create safer, healthier communities. 

For nearly 50 years, Saving Grace has supported survivors of domestic and sexual violence. All services are free and confidential. People can call our 24-hour helpline, find safe shelter, meet with advocates, or get support in court. These services are open to anyone, no matter their age, gender, or background.  

Domestic violence is not just a personal problem; it is a public health issue. It impacts children’s growth, mental health, and the safety of entire neighborhoods. Saving Grace works to stop the cycle of abuse by offering prevention programs in schools, workplaces, and the wider community. Advocates teach about healthy relationships and respect. They also partner with health departments, police, and local organizations so that people in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties can get help quickly.

 

Ending domestic violence is something everyone can take part in. Here are three simple ways to get involved: 

• Learn and Share: Know the warning signs of abuse and talk with friends and family about healthy relationships. 
• Support Survivors: Believe people when they share their story. Listen with kindness and connect them with resources like Saving Grace’s Helpline. 
• Get Involved: Volunteer, donate, or attend events. Join us this October 17 at the Purple Party fundraiser which will raise money and awareness for survivors. 

Small actions can make a big difference. When we work together, we send a clear message that violence is never okay. Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported. Children deserve to grow up in homes where they feel safe. Families deserve to live free from fear. 

Saving Grace believes this future is possible. But it will take all of us—neighbors, schools, businesses, and community leaders—working together. By learning, speaking up, and supporting survivors, Central Oregon can be a place where safety, respect, and hope are the norm. 

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month and every month, Saving Grace stands with survivors. We invite you to join us in building a stronger, more caring community. 

If you or someone you know needs help, call 541-389-7021 any time, day or night. You can also visit www.saving-grace.org to learn more about services, volunteer opportunities, and ways to give. Together, we can create a future where every person lives free from violence. 

Halloween Activities and Staying Safe 

Fall has arrived with cooler days and pumpkin-flavored everything, meaning Halloween is right around the corner! From pumpkin patches, spooky decorations, costumes and trick-or-treating, Halloween is a holiday filled with fun. With many activities occurring, a little preparation and planning can help you and your loved ones stay safe and enjoy the holiday! 

Tips for staying safe this Halloween: 

Food Safety: 

• Trick-or-Treating: 
• Don’t eat candy until you get home and it has been inspected. Look for signs of tampering such as tiny holes, tears, discoloration or strange appearance. When in doubt, throw it out! 
• Tell children not to accept or eat anything that is handed out homemade and isn’t commercially wrapped. 
• Remove any candy that could be a choking hazard such as gum and small hard candies. 
• Be extra careful if you or your child has any food allergies. 

• Halloween Parties: 
• Keep all perishable food in the refrigerator until it is time to serve. This would include cheeses, meats, salads, and desserts with cream, among others. 
• Don’t let food sit out for too long! Bacteria can begin growing on foods if left out at room temperature for more than two hours. 
• Always serve pasteurized juices! Unpasteurized juice or cider can be contaminated with bacteria like E. Coli and Salmonella and can make you and your guests sick. 
• Bobbing for apples is a common fall game, but swap a communal bucket for individual buckets of water and apples! 
• If you are drinking alcohol, be sure to have a designated driver or use a ride-share program to get home safely. Drink in moderation and alternate drinks with water. 

Car and Pedestrian Safety: 

• October 31^st can be a busy night of trick-or-treating with lots of extra foot traffic in neighborhoods. Earlier dark nights, no streetlights and some neighborhoods without sidewalks can make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians. Make sure you and your family are visible to cars by considering costumes with reflective material, using glow sticks, flashlights or reflective tape to stand out! 

• Remind children to cross at corner intersections and look both ways before crossing. 

• Talk with children about distracted walking and to avoid being on their phone while walking, and especially while crossing streets. 
• If you are driving the night of October 31^st, slow down and be extra alert in neighborhoods. 

Cold Weather Safety: 

• Temperatures can vary on Halloween in Central Oregon and you never know if it’ll be a warm or snowy evening! Make sure costumes are warm enough and consider layering clothing. 

Fire Safety: 

• Instead of using real candles to light your pumpkins, opt for battery powered candles. 
• Look for “flame-resistant” labels if you are buying costumes. 

Respiratory Illness: 

• Halloween is right around the beginning of respiratory illness season and when cases of COVID-19, Flu and RSV start picking up. Stay healthy by washing your hands before eating, consider masking in crowded indoor places, and stay up to date on fall respiratory vaccines. If you are not feeling well, stay home and enjoy a cozy night in! 

Find alternative events: 

• If you or your family aren’t wanting to trick-or-treat, look for alternative options! Many businesses and community spaces over alternatives that are supervised and in well-lit spaces.

Bat found in Deschutes County tests positive for rabies  

Deschutes County Public Health urges residents to take necessary precautions to protect their families and pets after a cat caught a bat that tested positive for rabies in Bend in early September.

Rabies is a serious viral disease that can be transmitted to humans and pets through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. While a post-exposure vaccination is effective, the best way to avoid rabies is to take the following precautions: 



• Avoid physical contact with bats – healthy, sick, alive, or dead. Be sure to keep children and pets away from bats.  
• Do not hand-feed or handle stray animals and wildlife. 
• Vaccinate pets - to protect your pets, make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date. 
• Oregon law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats. 
• First vaccination: between 3–6 months of age 
• First booster: 1 year later 
• Ongoing boosters: every 3 years 
• Unvaccinated pets suspected of exposure must be euthanized or placed under a strict four-month quarantine. 

Bats play a valuable role in our ecosystem. While they do not all carry rabies, bats are the most commonly reported animal to have rabies in the U.S., so it is important to avoid any contact with them. If you see a bat that is active during the day, indoors, or on the ground unable to fly, move children and pets to safety and contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) at (541) 388-6363 or contact a local Wildlife Control Operator. 

If a person or pet does come in physical contact with a bat or is bitten by an animal, promptly report it to Deschutes County Animal Control at (541) 693-6911 or Deschutes County Environmental Health at (541) 317-3114. 

For more information about rabies, please refer to resources from the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

See Us in the News

• The Source: Central Oregon Faces Worst HIV Crisis on Record
• Central Oregon Daily News: Rabid Bat Found in Bend Prompts Warning to Deschutes County Residents
• Central Oregon Daily News: Sitting down with Deschutes County Health Services to talk about Suicide Prevention Month
• KTVZ: Health and Wellness Fair

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Health Services hosts numerous classes and special events each month!

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Public Health Resources:

• Central Oregon public health web resources:
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• Deschutes County
• Jefferson County

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