Like other points of the pandemic when the Mid-Columbia area tended to lag behind trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the Omicron surge appears to be similar.  North Central Public Health District Chief Health Officer Dr. Mimi McDonell says Wasco, Sherman, and Gilliam counties are lagging a bit behind the larger areas of the state.  McDonell also said vaccinations in the district remain on a slow and steady pace, noting challenges in communicating that boosters are available to most people may have slowed that pace.  She added the Oregon Health Authority will be doing a week-long vaccine clinic in Wasco County during February.