From “snowbirds” to the evolving thinking over vaccination age groups, we answer questions about the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
More than 33,000 Maine residents had been vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Monday morning, which is a higher percentage than almost every other state but still less than 3 percent of the population. The vaccination plan will be a months-long effort, and many people have questions about how it will play out. Here are answers to some common questions about the vaccination rollout and what to expect in the coming months. Have other questions? Email them to [email protected]. We’ve received this question more than a dozen times in recent days. In another scenario, individuals have moved to Maine temporarily to help an aging parent or family member weather the pandemic. And unfortunately, we don’t have a firm answer because state health officials have yet to settle on a policy. The issue of seasonal Maine residents – and particularly retired “snowbirds” in higher-risk age groups – is “the subject of ongoing discussions” at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Maine CDC spokesman Robert Long said the state’s ultimate aim is to vaccinate everyone regardless of residency, especially if they fall within a high-risk group. But the federal government bases its vaccine allocation formula on state populations, so Long said the state is talking with their federal officials about finding “an equitable way to vaccinate at-risk ‘snowbirds.’” This is no minor issue in Maine, where more than 19 percent of homes were considered “vacation” homes, according to a recent report. That is the highest percentage in the nation. But Maine also has the nation’s oldest population, with nearly 20 percent of the people who actually reside here being over age 65. All of that adds up to a lot of competition for scant supplies of vaccines, at present. Asked about the issue on a Maine Public call-in program on Monday, Maine CDC director Dr. Nirav Shah said his agency has also heard from Maine residents currently wintering in other states. Shah is talking with his counterparts in other states but didn’t have an answer yet. “Vaccines remain a precious commodity today but hopefully, at some point in the future, there will be a sufficient number of vaccines authorized and they will be produced in large enough numbers to where we won’t have to make those distinctions,” Shah said on Maine Calling. “The only thing we will care about is vaccinating folks so the entire country can get back to normal.” That’s the plan — eventually. National pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens are already administering vaccines to residents and staff at Maine’s long-term care homes as part of the first phase of vaccinations for the highest-risk individuals. Maine CDC is also talking with the chains, and others, about offering COVID-19 vaccines to the broader public when that time arrives. Additionally, Hannaford Supermarkets announced last week that it plans to offer COVID vaccines at its pharmacies in Maine and four other New England states when the states get to Phase 2 of vaccinations. Shah said Monday that the state is also discussing options for mass-vaccination clinics around the state where thousands of people could receive shots in a single day. The challenge there, Shah said, is setting up such large-scale vaccination events in a way that avoids long lines of people that, in turn, become super-spreader events for the virus. Maine is still squarely within Phase 1A, which is focused on hospital emergency department and COVID unit staff, first responders, long-term care residents and staff, and other medical professionals or hospital staff with higher risks of COVID-19. The next tier, which is Phase 1B focused on Mainers age 75 and older and other “essential workers” is expected to begin in February. The short answer is, it’s unclear but the timing will likely depend on your age. As it stands now, vaccinations appear likely to begin in February for Mainers age 75 and older as well as “essential” workers such as teachers, police officers, grocery store employees, postal workers and those in food or agricultural production.
