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.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.
AUGUSTA, Maine —
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.
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.