Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that all Mainers 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 7.Mills said the state is accelerating its vaccine due to a significant increase in vaccine supply from the federal government next week.Mainers 16 and older had previously been scheduled to become eligible on April 19. Currently, Mainers 50 and older are eligible.“Maine continues to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. With the Federal government significantly increasing our supply of vaccines, it is appropriate to accelerate our timeframe and make all Maine people eligible beginning next Wednesday,” Mills said.Maine will receive 54,790 doses, including 19,890 Pfizer doses, 14,300 Moderna doses and 20,600 Johnson & Johnson doses.The 54,700 doses only represent the state of Maine’s allotment from the federal government. It does not include doses that will go to area pharmacies next week.The governor cautioned Mainers that even though the eligibility timeline is being accelerated, it could take some time to get an appointment for a vaccine.“We will continue to work with vaccine providers across Maine to get shots into arms as quickly as we can,” Mills said.For 37-year-old Angie Dyer of Saco, who’s battling cystic fibrosis which puts her in a higher risk category, the announcement comes with a sense of security.“You know it kind of takes away any classification or hierarchy that’s going on regarding this, and it’s all inclusive, which is fabulous,” Dyer said. The increase in supply is one of the reasons why Maine CDC’s Dr. Nirav Shah said that expanding eligibility is possible, coupled with the groundwork that’s been laid over the past few months.“Our ability to turn vaccines into vaccinations, that is to say the number of vaccine sites, the number of hours per day they’re open, the number of days per week they’re open and the number of people they have at any one time to administer their shots,” Dr. Shah said of the other reason expanding eligibility is possible.The change comes as a relief to Maine’s hospitality industry ahead of what’s expected to be a good summer season.“This is very welcome news. It will really, I think, kickstart the rehiring process and I think given the timing, we have time to get staffed up before the, the rush comes and I think we are going to see a very strong season,” said Steve Hewins of Hospitality Maine. As of Thursday, more than 435,000 Mainers, or 32.41% of the population, have received at least a first dose of a vaccine, and more than 277,000 Mainers, or 20.61% of the population, have received a final dose.The governor said Maine is currently fourth best in the country for the percentage of its population with at least one dose of vaccine and currently ranks seventh best nationwide for the percentage of its population fully vaccinated.
Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that all Mainers 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 7.
Mills said the state is accelerating its vaccine due to a significant increase in vaccine supply from the federal government next week.
Mainers 16 and older had previously been scheduled to become eligible on April 19. Currently, Mainers 50 and older are eligible.
“Maine continues to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. With the Federal government significantly increasing our supply of vaccines, it is appropriate to accelerate our timeframe and make all Maine people eligible beginning next Wednesday,” Mills said.
Maine will receive 54,790 doses, including 19,890 Pfizer doses, 14,300 Moderna doses and 20,600 Johnson & Johnson doses.
The 54,700 doses only represent the state of Maine’s allotment from the federal government. It does not include doses that will go to area pharmacies next week.
The governor cautioned Mainers that even though the eligibility timeline is being accelerated, it could take some time to get an appointment for a vaccine.
“We will continue to work with vaccine providers across Maine to get shots into arms as quickly as we can,” Mills said.
For 37-year-old Angie Dyer of Saco, who’s battling cystic fibrosis which puts her in a higher risk category, the announcement comes with a sense of security.
“You know it kind of takes away any classification or hierarchy that’s going on regarding this, and it’s all inclusive, which is fabulous,” Dyer said.
The increase in supply is one of the reasons why Maine CDC’s Dr. Nirav Shah said that expanding eligibility is possible, coupled with the groundwork that’s been laid over the past few months.
“Our ability to turn vaccines into vaccinations, that is to say the number of vaccine sites, the number of hours per day they’re open, the number of days per week they’re open and the number of people they have at any one time to administer their shots,” Dr. Shah said of the other reason expanding eligibility is possible.
The change comes as a relief to Maine’s hospitality industry ahead of what’s expected to be a good summer season.
“This is very welcome news. It will really, I think, kickstart the rehiring process and I think given the timing, we have time to get staffed up before the, the rush comes and I think we are going to see a very strong season,” said Steve Hewins of Hospitality Maine.
As of Thursday, more than 435,000 Mainers, or 32.41% of the population, have received at least a first dose of a vaccine, and more than 277,000 Mainers, or 20.61% of the population, have received a final dose.
The governor said Maine is currently fourth best in the country for the percentage of its population with at least one dose of vaccine and currently ranks seventh best nationwide for the percentage of its population fully vaccinated.