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Posted on Jun 28, 2021
Portland Congregation Races To Get Members Vaccinated Before Oregon Reopens
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https://www.npr.org/2021/06/27/ [login to see] /portland-congregation-races-to-get-members-vaccinated-before-oregon-reopens
Oregon is counting down to reopening as the state's vaccination numbers tick up. Governor Kate Brown has established a threshold to lift most restrictions: 70% of Oregonians need to have at least one shot. The state is expected to reach that number in the coming days.
But at Highland Christian Center in Portland, the mood is not one of excitement.
"It feels like a war," says Senior Pastor Shon Neyland. "It feels like a war of attrition."
Neyland speaks from experience. Before he retired, he was a chaplain in the Air Force and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now he pastors this church of nearly 700 mostly Black congregants, big enough that it takes up a whole city block and has its own coffee shop and bookstore.
Today, Neyland is fighting an invisible enemy: the forces keeping his congregants from getting the vaccine. He estimates at least half the church isn't vaccinated. Once the state reaches 70 percent, this could mean hundreds of unvaccinated, unmasked people attending his Sunday service. And that has Neyland worried.
Oregon is counting down to reopening as the state's vaccination numbers tick up. Governor Kate Brown has established a threshold to lift most restrictions: 70% of Oregonians need to have at least one shot. The state is expected to reach that number in the coming days.
But at Highland Christian Center in Portland, the mood is not one of excitement.
"It feels like a war," says Senior Pastor Shon Neyland. "It feels like a war of attrition."
Neyland speaks from experience. Before he retired, he was a chaplain in the Air Force and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now he pastors this church of nearly 700 mostly Black congregants, big enough that it takes up a whole city block and has its own coffee shop and bookstore.
Today, Neyland is fighting an invisible enemy: the forces keeping his congregants from getting the vaccine. He estimates at least half the church isn't vaccinated. Once the state reaches 70 percent, this could mean hundreds of unvaccinated, unmasked people attending his Sunday service. And that has Neyland worried.
Portland Congregation Races To Get Members Vaccinated Before Oregon Reopens
Posted from npr.org
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Posted 3 y ago
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Wow Brother William, PO1 William "Chip" Nagel great read and share. I really enjoy your reads and shares.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel "Today, Neyland is fighting an invisible enemy: the forces keeping his congregants from getting the vaccine. He estimates at least half the church isn't vaccinated. Once the state reaches 70 percent, this could mean hundreds of unvaccinated, unmasked people attending his Sunday service. And that has Neyland worried.
Oregon is slightly leading much of the country in vaccination rates, but the overall figures don't tell the whole story. The Black population of Oregonians is lagging more than 15 percent behind the white vaccination rate, according to state health data.
While this has been a national trend, consistent data across states has been hard to come by. Recent analysis of the 42 states that track vaccine rates by race from Kaiser Family Foundation shows the vaccine equity gap has narrowed recently across the country, but Black and Hispanic people are still significantly behind."
Oregon is slightly leading much of the country in vaccination rates, but the overall figures don't tell the whole story. The Black population of Oregonians is lagging more than 15 percent behind the white vaccination rate, according to state health data.
While this has been a national trend, consistent data across states has been hard to come by. Recent analysis of the 42 states that track vaccine rates by race from Kaiser Family Foundation shows the vaccine equity gap has narrowed recently across the country, but Black and Hispanic people are still significantly behind."
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his congregation represent the people that the republicans don't want to get vaccinated. that way, they can keep them oppressed
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