Maine vaccine clinics prepare for surge in demand with expanded eligibility
As of Wednesday, April 7, Mainers 16 years and older can get vaccinated, as Maine continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author: Chloe Teboe (NEWS CENTER Maine)
Published: 8:32 AM EDT April 7, 2021
Updated: 10:29 AM EDT April 7, 2021
SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Vaccine clinics statewide are preparing for an expected surge in demand, as the eligibility in Maine to receive a COVID-19 vaccine changes. As of Wednesday, April 7, Mainers 16 years and older can get vaccinated—a noticeable difference compared to the 50 years and older requirement, as of March 23.
Governor Janet Mills made this announcement late last week. Originally, the date for this change was supposed to be almost two weeks from now on April, but in a press release, the Mills administration said that timeline could be moved up because of an expected "significant increase" in vaccine supply from the federal government. As a result, demand to set up an appointment to get vaccinated is surging—and vaccination sites are working to keep up.