Questions are answered by experts at the Oregon Health Authority, other state agencies or community partners. Questions and answers are republished by permission.
Q: I got my COVID-19 shot in October, as I have for the past three years. With all the uncertainty regarding the next (2025-2026) COVID vaccine, should I get a booster of the current 2024-2025 vaccine? I am not immune compromised, but I am cautious because I am around immune compromised individuals and we seem to have a COVID surge every summer. – Chelsea, Portland
A: Chelsea, if you’re 65 or older, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you receive one additional dose (booster) of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine as long as it’s been at least two months since receiving your first dose. The same recommendation applies to those with compromised immune systems.
If you are neither age 65+ nor immune compromised but you work or spend a lot of time with people who are, your instinct to protect them (by fortifying your own immune system) is a good one. You may be able to get another dose from your doctor – or a prescription for a pharmacist to give you another dose; but be aware that it may not be covered by your insurance since it’s not specifically recommended by CDC. We would also caution that the COVID-19 vaccine is not so good at preventing transmission to others as it is protecting vaccinated people from severe disease and hospitalization.
Regarding the next (2025-2026) COVID-19 vaccine, we expect an updated formula to be released in the fall as we head into respiratory virus season, but we will have to wait until that happens to get details on specific CDC recommendations.
Q: Are there grants available for radon mitigation? – Clare, The Dalles
A: Yes, there are public grant funds available to perform radon mitigation, but they are granted to organizations, not individual homeowners or renters. People would need to contact one of the organizations and ask if they could use the funds to mitigate radon in their home. See a list of organizations currently receiving this funding here.
This funding is made possible by OHA’s Healthy Homes Grant Program, which was established in 2021 by the Oregon Legislature to improve housing conditions for low-income and environmental justice communities by providing grants to organizations that in turn provide services (such as radon mitigation) to these communities. Organizations can use the grant dollars for a variety of purposes, including energy efficiency, extending a home’s life, structural or safety improvements, as well as improving the health and safety of a home’s occupants via mitigation of radon, lead and mold/mildew, removal of asthma triggers, etc. OHA cannot dictate to organizations that receive grant funds which services they will provide or to whom.
Watch this 3-minute video to learn more about OHA’s Healthy Homes Grant Program.
If you have questions about health topics for the Oregon Health Authority, submit your question here. Although the agency is unable to answer every question, it will try to address those of interest to a broad audience. Please understand that OHA is unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
