MaineSkiLady
Angel Diva
Good, late-breaking news, for your DD, @BackCountryGirl:I have a terrible feeling of schadenfreude. Maine has gone to an age-based system. My DD, who is teaching in person, no longer is eligible for a vaccine but I am. We are now open to 60+.
https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-...sponse-to-president-bidens-directive/35716534
PORTLAND, Maine —
Gov. Janet Mills announced Wednesday that the state will begin vaccinating educators in response to President Joe Biden’s directive that educators receive at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the month.
According to the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 36,400 school staff and 16,000 child care providers are eligible under the directive. This is in addition to the 10,632 school staff over the age of 60 already eligible under the Governor’s age-tiered system.
“I share the president’s desire to vaccinate school staff and child care workers as quickly as possible, just as I want to see all Maine people vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Mills said in a statement. “Based on the president’s directive, we are updating our plan today to make school staff and child care workers eligible. We will continue to work day and night with our health care providers to get shots into as many arms as possible, as quickly as possible, focusing our efforts on those most at risk of dying if they contract the virus.”
Mills said Hannaford, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies taking part in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program in Maine have been directed to give access to available appointments exclusively to school staff and licensed child care workers moving forward.
The governor said school staff and child care workers should first check the websites of retail pharmacy partners for vaccine availability.
Already scheduled appointments made by people 60 and older will not be canceled, according to Maine.
She added that vaccine clinics in Maine will begin accepting appointments for school staff and licensed child care workers as soon as they are able.
The governor said the state will continue to establish dedicated vaccination opportunities for Maine school staff 60 and older. More information will be released later this week.