Gov. Mills announces updates to states COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan – WMTW Portland

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GOVERNOR MILLS. DR., THANK YOU THANK YOU, DR. SHAW. MY FUNDAMENTAL GOAL, THE GOAL OF US THROUGH THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TO SAVE LIVES, VERY FUNDAMENTALLY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SEVERAL VACCINES LAST MONTH WE RECEIVED CRITICAL NEW TOOLS IN THE EFFORT AND STOOD READY TO USE IT AND WE ARE USING IT. WORKED SO HARD TO DISTRIBUTE VACCINES WE RECEIVED EQUITABLY AND IT SHOWS. WE RANKED VERY HIGH AMONG THE STATES NATIONWIDE FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF VACCINE DOSES AND JUST YESTERDAY, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE RECOGNIZED MAINE ON OUR WHITE HOUSE CALL AS ONE OF THE LEADING STATES NATIONWIDE IN RAPID DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE AND HE ASKED KNOW SHARE WITH THE GROUP WITH THE OTHER GOVERNORS BEST PRACTICES ON OUR CALL. TO DATE, 53511 PEOPLE IN MAINE HAVE GOTTEN FIRST DOSES AS DR. SHAW MENTIONED, WITH 62004 PROVIDE IN TOTAL. EXCLUDING THE DOSES PROVIDED TO THE RETAIL PHARMACY LONG TERM CARE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMEN DIRECTLY, 82% OF THE FIRST DOSES OF THE VACCINES MAINE HAS RECEIVED HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED. THAT THEY WILL COME TO VACCINATE ALL ELIGIBLE PEOPLE, ALL 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE, HOPEFULLY, IN THE STATE OF MAINE. CHIEF AMONG THE CHALLENGING NEWS IS THE FACT THAT MAINE IS RECEIVING LIMITED UNPREDIBBLE AND INCONSISTENT NUMBER OF DOSES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS WEEK RECEIVED 100 DOSES MORE THAN LAST WEEK AND LESS THAN WE GOT. BASED ON THAT LIMITED SUPPLY IN THE FIRST PHASE IN THAT, WE FOCUSED ON PROTECTING AND HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL INCLUDING DOCTORS, NURSES, EMT’S, CNA’S WHO ARE WORKING TO SAVE LIVES DURING THIS PANDEMIC. AS THE STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES WHO HAVE BEEN HIT PRETTY HARD BY THIS VIRUS. IT IS LIKE WHEN YOU ARE ON AIRPLANE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. YOU GET ON THE PLANE AND THEY TELL YOU, PUT YOUR MASK ON FIRST, SO YOU CAN THEN TAKE CARE OF OTHERS. THAT IS WHY FRONT LINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE UNIVERSALLY IN PHASE 1A OF THAT VACCINE DISTRIBUTION. I STRONGLY COVERAGE EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY THE STAFF OF LONG-TERM CARE FA STILL THERES. GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT IS SAFE. IT IS EFFECTIVE. IT WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE MOST AT RISK OF BEING SICKENED OR DIEING FROM THIS VIRUS. THE SAME PEOPLE WHO RELY ON IT EVERY DAY FOR THEIR OWN CARE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT ALL, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR WHO CAN VO VIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINES OR GO ON-LINE ON SOUR WEBSITE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO PROTECT YOU BUT PROTECT THE PEOPLE YOU ARE CARE FROM AND ALLOW TO OPEN UP TO VIS FIRINGS THE PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY TO THEIR LOVED ONCE. TODAY, WE ARE EXPANDING 1A TO INCLUDE OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL, FIREFIGHTER, POLICE, OTHER CORRECTION OFFICIALS TO END SURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE BASIC PUBLIC SERVICES OF MAINE. WE’RE EX BECOMING A PHASE 1A TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PERSONNEL WHOLE ARE CRITICAL TO MAINE OR THE NATION’S COVID-19 RESPONSE PRETTY UNDER. LE LAMENT THOSE PEOPLE AT ABBOTT LABS, PURITAN MEDICAL, MAINE CDC, JACKSON LABS, THE PEOPLE WHOLE ARE RESPONSE, RIGHT NOW, FOR MANUFACTURING, TESTING, PROCESSING AND REPORTING OF COVID-19 TESTS AND WHOSE WORK IS DISRUPTED WOULD SEVERELY HAMPER OUR ABILITY AS A STATE AND NATION TO RESPOND TO THIS PANDEMIC. COLLECTIVELY THESE ACTIONS FURTHER PROTECT AND ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICE AND COVID-19 RESPONSE IN FRACK STURE TURE ON WHICH PEOPLE RELY. IF THE SUPPLY FOR VACCINE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES AT THE CURRENT PACE, WE EXPECT TO COMPLETE PHASE 1A BY BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY. PLANNING FOR FUTURE PHASES OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION FROM MAINE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. CLOSELY REVIEWING UNITED STATES CDC AND IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSION THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ACROSS THE STATE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR APPLICKABILITY FOR OUR STATE. IN LIGHT OF THE CHALLENGE AND COMBATING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING CENT WEEKS CHANGING THE VACCINATION PLAN TO TARGET THE NEXT PHASE, PHASE 1B FIRST TO OLDER MAINE PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO WITH SERIOUS CONDITIONS. THE OBJECT IS SIMPLY TO SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP ASKING OURSELVES, WHO IS IT THAT IS LIKELY TO SUFFER AND DIE IF THEY DON’T GET THE VACCINE? YESTERDAY THE UNITED STATES HEALTH OF HUMAN SERVICES SEEMED TO AGREE AND THEY UPDATED THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STATE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PRIORITIZE VACCINATIONS FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND THOSE WITH HIGH RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THED RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALIGN WITH OUR GOALS OF FIRST VACCINATING PEOPLE WHO AT RISK OF SUFFERING AND DIEING FROM THE DEADLY VIRUS. HOWEVER, HE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS CHANGE WILL AFFECT THE STATE OF MAINE. INCLUDING HOW CHANGES TO THE VACCINE ALLOCATION FORMULA AND DISTRIBUTION AND SECOND DOSES WHO WORK FOR OUR STATE AND WE WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH THE CHANGES WE HAVE CONSIDERED AND TO OUR OWN VACCINATION DISTRIBUTION PLAN SO TODAY WE’RE UPDATING PHASE 1B TO INCLUDE OLDER MAINE PEOPLE BEGINNING WITH THOSE WHO ARE 70 AND OLDER SHALL BRAND ADULTS WITH HIGH RISK MEDICAL CONDITIONS. WE HOPE TO MOVE INTO PHASE 1B THIS MONTH WE ARE MAKING THIS CHANGE. AND PEOPLE ARE AREA IN LYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, SERIOUS CONDITIONS THAN OTHER STATES WE KNOW THAT COVID-19 POSTS A GREATER RISK OF DEATH TO OLDER PEOPLE AND TO THOSE WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS. MORE THAN 8 A% OF COVID-19 RELATED DEATH IN OUR STATE HAVE BEEN AMONG PEOPLE 70 AND OLDER. MORE THAN 85% AND 17% OF MAINE PEOPLE 7 ANDLER HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19. COMPARED TO LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF ALL PEOPLE YOUNGER AGE. LET HE ME BE CLEAR, IF YOU ARE 70 OF AGE OR OLDER, PLEASE DON’T GO RUSHING TO THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE WHEN YOU HEAR THIS NEWS. THEY ARE NOT READY TO VACCINATE YOU YET. DATIONAL INFORMATION ON VACCINATION FOR PEOPLE AGE 70th A OLDER IN MAINE WILL BE AVAILABLE THE WEEK OF JANUARY 18TH. NOT TOO FAR OFF, FOR NOW. PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE PATIENT, AND TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION AS I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. WE ARE STARTING WITH MAINE PEOPLE 70 AND OLDER INSTEAD OF 65 AND OLDER NOW BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE AND BECAUSE THE RISK TO THEIR HEALTH AND LIVES IS SO GREAT. ONCE WE FINISHED VACCINATING THE APPROXIMATELY 193,000 PEOPLE IN MAINE WHO ARE 70 AND OLDER AND PEOPLE WITH YUN ARE LYING SERIOUS CONDITIONS OR RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL MORE VACCINE THAN WE ARE EXPECTING WE’LL MOVE TO VACCINATE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 65 AND 69. AFTER WE VACCINATE PEOPLE OF AGES 65 TO 69 AND OTHERS WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND SERIOUS RISK, WE WILL MOVE TO VACCINATE FRONT LINE HIGH RISK WORKERS THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF CONTRACTING OR SPREADING HE SEE YOU VIRUS. AS INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SUPPLY BECOMES AVAILABLE UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON. WE CAN AND MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISION AND DETERMINATIONS ABOUT WHO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE. I KNOW IT ISES A BIT DISAPPOINTING TO SOME PEOPLE IN MAINE WHO WILL HAVE TO WILT A BIT LONGER TO BE VACCINATED BASED ON THE LOOK OF SUPPLY. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON IN MAINE IS ESSENTIAL FOR WHATEVER THEY DO FOR WORK, AEVER THEY MAY LIVE, WHATEVER THE FAMILY SITUATION, RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR LIMITED SUPPLY OF VACCINES, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON SAVING AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE. BE AS MORE VACCINES BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE STATE OF MAINE, WE’LL FOCUS NEXT ON PROTECTING THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF CONTRACT ORG SPREADING THE VIRUS AND THOSE MOST EXPOSED. AGAIN, THE SUPPLY OF VACCINES AIMING TO COMPLETE PHASE 1B BY APRIL. PHASE 1C WILL INCLUDE THE OTHER HIGH RISK FRONT LINE WORKERS DESCRIBED IN DESIGNATIONS AND PHASE 2 WILL INCLUDE PEOPLE AGES 16 TO 64 WHO ARE NOT OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE AND EVENTUALLY, EVERYONE IN THE STATE OF MAINE IS EDGABLE AND WILL BE VACCINATED IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. PHASES PLANNED FOR THE SPRING AND SUMMER. TO SO TO SUMMARIZE BASE ON THE EXPECTATION OF SUPPLY, AS OF TODAY, PHASE 1A IN ADDITION TO HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL SUCH AS DOCTORS, NURSES, OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND STAFF AND EMPLOYEES OF LONG TERM CARE FA SILL THINKS THAT NOW INCLUDES FIREFIGHTERS, CORRECTION OFFICERS AND CRITICAL COVID-19 RESPONSE PERSONNEL. WE EXPECT COMPLETE PHASE 1A AT BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY PHASE 1B NOW INCLUDES OLLER MAINE PEOPLE 70 AND OLLER AND PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT STILL INCLUDES PEOPLE AGES 65 AND OLDER AND FRONT LINE WEAKERS AT RISK OF CONTRACTING THE VIRUS. DEFENDING IN HOW MANY PEOPLE DETERMINED TO BE THE HIGH RISK FRONT LINE WORKERS EXPECT TO COMPLETE PHASE 1B BY APRIL. AFTER PHASE 1B IS COME PLEAED BY SPRING OR SUMMER, WE EXPECT TO BEGIN VACCINATING EVERYONE ELSE. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION. IT IS SO IMPORTANT. YOU HEARD THE NUMBERS TODAY. OUR HOSPITALS AND GETTING FULL, STAFF ARE BEING OVERWHELMED. WE CANNOT KEEP ON THE TAX. IT IS UP TO EVERYONE OF YOU TO KEEP YOUR GUARD UP, TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION AS DR. SHAW, DR. FAUCI AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN ADVISING FOR MONTHS. WE CANNOT LET DOWN OUR GUARD. THIS PROCESS BY NATURE IS CONFUSING AND COMPLICATED. I WISH MORE THAN ANYTHING I GIVE EVERY PERSON IN MAINE A TICKET AND RESERVATION TO GET THE VACCINE AT PARTICULAR TIME ON A PAR TK TICULAR DATE. WE CAN’T DO THAT. THOUGH CHANGES COME ONLY AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE MAINE ORGANIZATION PROGRAM MAINE HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION, MAINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS WHO HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE AGAPS CROSS THE STATE AND THE PRIMARY CARE AND AFTER HEARING FROM HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND INTEREST GROUPS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARED A REKAG FOR VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE POPULATION. I A, IT A ALL OF THOSE ARGUMENTS EVERY ONE AND VALID. THEY ARE SAL VAL LID. AS ALWAYS, OUR DECISIONS HAVE TO BE BASED ON SCIENCE, FACT, MEDICAL EXPERTISE THAT IS WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE’RE DOING TODAY THE ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU AS WE RECEIVE IT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WE ADJUST THE PLAN IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME. MEANTIME, IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED ONCE OR TWICE OR IF YOU ARE WAITING TO BE VACCINATED PLEASE KEEP TAKING THE STEPS THAT WE KNOW KEEP IT SAFE WHEREVER YOU WORK AND WHEREVER YOU LIVE. WHATEVER YOU DO. WEAR YOUR MASK. WASH YOUR HANDS. AVOID GATHERINGS. PLEASE AVOID GATHERINGS. AS ATTEMPTING AS THEY ARE. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO VACCINATE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKELY TO GET SERIOUSLY SICK OR DRY THIS VIRUS. YOU CAN DO YOUR PART IN THE MEANTIME TO PROTECT THEM BY TAKING THE SIMPLE MEASU