Maine doctors answer common COVID-19 vaccine questions
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Updated: 5:12 PM EDT May 14, 2021
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Updated: 5:12 PM EDT May 14, 2021
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NEWS 8'S MARY CATE MANNION A COMMON QUESTION AND CONCERN HE HEARS OFTEN HERE IN MAINE. 18:14:10 MC ON CAM SO FAR MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION DOSES OF COVID19 VACCINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT HERE IN THE STATE OF MAINE. BUT SOME STILL HAVE QUESTIONS. WE ASKED FOR YOURS, AND YOU SENT THEM IN TO OUR GET THE FACTS ON THE VAX. WE ARE HERE IN BANGOR WHERE WE BROUGHT THOSE QUESTIONS TO DR. JAMES JARVIS WITH NORTHERN LIGHT HEALTH. 18:07:38 DR. JAMES JARVIS NORTHERN LIGHT HEALTH THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET AROUND HESITANCY IS TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S CONCERNS. DR. JAMES JARVIS HAS OVERSEEN THE COVID-19 VACCINATION EFFORTS FOR NORTHERN LIGHT HEALTH, AND FIELDS QUESTIONS ON THE 3 COVID-19 VACCINES AVAILABLE HERE IN MAINE. SUZANNE SUBMITTED TO NEWS 8, WHAT HAPPENS IF I WAIT A WEEK LATE TO GET MY SECOND SHOT? 17:54:30 I HAVE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO GET IT EARLY, BUT IF BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET IT ON THAT EXACT DATE YOU CAN GET IT LATE THAT IS PROBABLY OK. WE ARE USING THAT SECOND SHOT TO INCREASE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE FROM THE FIRST ONE, IT MAY NOT INCREASE QUITE AS HIGH AS YOU GOT IT ON THAT PERFECT EXACT DAY BUT IT IS OK TO GET IT LATE IF YOU MISSED YOUR APPOINTMENT. WE TOOK ANOTHER QUESTION TO DR. DORA ANN MILLS WITH MAINEHEALTH: HOW LONG DOES THE VACCINE PROTECT YOU? 2:58 WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG EXACTLY THE VACCINE PROTECTS US FOR. WE KNOW THAT THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO GOT THE VACCINE IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS LAST SUMMER, THAT THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF IMMUNITY. SO WE MAY NEED A BOOSTER AT SOME POINT IN TIME BUT WE KNOW 7- 8 MONTHS OUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HAVING VERY EXCELLENT LEVELS OF IMMUNITY. DR. MILLS AND DR. JARVIS TACKLED OTHER TOPICS, SUCH AS VACCINATIONS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, OR WOMEN PLANNING TO HAVE CHILDREN AND WHY 12-15 SHOULD BE VACCINATED. WE WILL BE SHARING THOSE QUESTI