Oregon Officials Fend Off Suit Over Covid Vaccine Priority Tiers

Oregon inmates can’t proceed with a lawsuit claiming the state government’s plan to ration Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic harmed them, a federal appeals court said.

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act barred the inmates’ lawsuit against Oregon governor Kate Brown (D) and state officials who put them on the lowest tier when prioritizing access to the vaccine in early 2021, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said Thursday. The PREP Act provided immunity to the officials from being sued and held liable for the administration or use of a covered countermeasure to stave off a ...