Information and resources for our patients and community
Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19, this page will be updated as new information becomes available.
UPDATED February 13, 2023
Here at The Portland Clinic, we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and we are working hard to keep our patients, staff and providers safe. We understand that you may have questions or concerns surrounding the virus. Here’s what you need to know.
COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available. Getting the vaccine is fast, easy, and free. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated, including pregnant persons. COVID-19 is a vaccine-preventable illness, and almost all patients currently admitted to hospitals are unvaccinated.
People who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for a booster shot at least five months after their initial vaccine series. For individuals who are 18 years and older who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are recommended at least two months after the initial vaccine.
For established patients 18 years and older:
The Portland Clinic is not offering primary vaccines or booster shots at this time. If you are in need of a primary dose or would like to get a booster shot, we recommend that you contact your local pharmacy.
Updated (bivalent) boosters – The updated (bivalent) boosters are called “bivalent” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.
Previous boosters are called “monovalent” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19. They also provide some protection against Omicron, but not as much as the updated (bivalent) boosters.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. The different versions of the virus that have developed over time are called variants. Learn more about variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, have developed updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters.
Getting vaccinated if you’ve had or currently have COVID-19 – If you recently had COVID-19, you may consider delaying your next vaccine dose (whether a primary dose or booster) by three (3) months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you first received a positive test.
Reinfection is less likely in the weeks to months after infection. However, certain factors could be reasons to get a vaccine sooner rather than later, such as personal risk of severe disease, risk of disease in a loved one or close contact, the local COVID-19 Community Level, and the most common COVID-19 variant currently causing illness.
For established pediatric patients ages 6 months through 17 years:
The Portland Clinic is offering the specified primary dose series of the Moderna vaccine to this age group at our pediatric office at The Portland Clinic-Beaverton. Vaccinations are by appointment only. To schedule, please call 503-223-3113.
(PLEASE NOTE: As of August 31, 2022, we will no longer have the Pfizer vaccine available for children ages 5 to 11. If your child started their vaccine series with Pfizer, we recommend completing the series at your local pharmacy as the CDC does not recommend mixing vaccine products.)
Vaccine updates are available from the State of Oregon via:
To learn more about the vaccines, here are some additional resources:
Our priority will always be the health and safety of our patients, as well as our staff and providers. At each of our locations, we continue to take extra precautions and follow state and federal protocols to keep you as safe as possible in our clinics including:
Getting annual physicals, screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies, and preventive check-ups are essential for your overall well-being. We are concerned that you may be going without important medical care for acute, chronic or preventable conditions, illnesses or injuries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to contact your provider to schedule an appointment, whether it be in-person or through a video or phone visit.
Keeping you safe is essential but keeping the rest of you healthy is too. We are here for you and will help ensure you get the care you need.
People with the following symptoms may have COVID-19, as reported by the CDC.
It is important to seek immediate medical care if experiencing the following symptoms:
NOTE: The lists above do not include all possible symptoms of COVID-19.
Based on the recent guidelines issued by the CDC and the OHA for health care settings, if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 but are not experiencing any symptoms and you have:
you can come to your scheduled appointment in person, following all masking and safety protocols.
However, if you are experiencing symptoms (see the previous section above for details), we ask that you please call the clinic at 503-223-3113 to either reschedule or transition your appointment to a virtual visit.
For more information on exposure and quarantine guidance, please go to:
The Portland Clinic is partnering with local community health partners to conduct COVID-19 testing for established patients who have been identified for testing by their primary care provider. We are not able to conduct COVID-19 tests for individuals who are asymptomatic or who are seeking a return-to-work, return-to-school, or travel test. Please reach out to your local pharmacy or check the OHA website for testing locations in the area.
A COVID-19 test will be part of the pre-surgery process for all patients scheduled for a procedure at our surgery centers, as a precaution.
For more information, including risk factors and when to seek immediate medical attention, please visit the CDC website.
The same practices that stop the spread of the common cold and flu are recommended for COVID-19:
We now offer telemedicine options that allow you visit your provider at The Portland Clinic by video and/or phone for many health issues, from the convenience of your own home. Rest assured that our telemedicine capabilities are safe and secure. We use a HIPAA-compliant version of Zoom – video visits with us are not recorded, and all video/audio is encrypted. Our goal, always, is to keep both you and your information safe. Most insurances cover telemedicine visits the same as a regular office visit.
To schedule an appointment, please call 503-223-3113.
In order to maintain safe physical distancing, all lab visits need to be scheduled in advance. To schedule a lab appointment, please call 503-223-3113.
To help keep our patients, providers and staff healthy and safe, The Portland Clinic is limiting the number of people who accompany a patient at all of our clinic locations.
Patients needing assistance and pediatric patients may be accompanied by one family member or caregiver during their appointment. The person joining a patient must meet the following requirements:
Connect with your health care team at The Portland Clinic from the comfort of your home.
MyChart is a free, secure, online health management tool that connects patients to their health team at The Portland Clinic. Patients can communicate with their provider, access test results, view chart notes, pay their bill online, and much more.
For updated travel information related to COVID-19, please visit the CDC’s travel web page.
For general information and updated status of COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).