Questions are answered by experts at the Oregon Health Authority, other state agencies or community partners. Questions and answers republished by permission.
Q: Why has there been insufficient data for wastewater reporting over the last several weeks? – Nona, Portland
A: Thanks for your question, Nona, and you’re not the only one asking it. Unfortunately, there is not always enough information to call a “trend” in the data. When this occurs, the data point is marked as “insufficient data.” This may occur because wastewater samples test negative for a virus (because levels are too low to test positive) or because not all partners submit wastewater samples every week (i.e., there is a gap in the data). If a site that you are interested in shows insufficient data for a trend, we suggest that you look at a nearby community as well as the proportion of sites in each trend category statewide to understand current trends.
(Oregon monitors for COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. — The Oregonian/OregonLive)
Q: Has Pemgarda been approved for use in Oregon? – Ron, Eugene
A: Ron, Pemgarda — the only monoclonal antibody treatment for immunocompromised people to protect against COVID-19 — was authorized for emergency use nationwide by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2024. It has taken a while for Pemgarda to make its way to the west coast, however, as its relatively small manufacturer is located in Boston. But you can check out this Pemgarda infusion site locator tool to find it in our region. Right now, it shows two locations in Oregon, one in Vancouver, several in the Seattle/Tacoma region, and a few across our eastern border in the Boise, ID, region.
However, sites must opt in to be included on the website, so the locator tool is not comprehensive. In addition to the sites I mentioned, we do happen to know that Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) infusion clinics began offering Pemgarda to eligible patients in the fall of 2024. (Pemgarda infusions require a prescription from your health care provider.)
Pemgarda was authorized as a replacement for Evusheld — the monoclonal antibody treatment against COVID-19 that was discontinued in January 2023 after it was determined it was no longer effective against currently circulating COVID-19 strains. In August 2024, the FDA issued a statement indicating its authorization of Pemgarda may change if it, too, loses effectiveness against currently circulating COVID-19 strains.
Pemgarda is given every three months, while Evusheld was given every six months.
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.