Colleagues – 

I write to, I hope, provide some clarity on the news of the week regarding vaccines. I find it’s easy to mis-understand the specifics from news headlines or word of mouth. I call to your attention national, state, and local statements:

1. Federal News. President Biden offered remarks Tuesday night regarding vaccine supply. Reading the statement carefully, while this is good news, the statement was a commitment to having supply by the end of May. We do not yet know what this means to the timeline for local delivery and actual vaccinations.

2. State News. Governor Mills provided remarks Wednesday both reinforcing the new age-based approach to vaccines in Maine, while also announcing that “her Administration will align Maine’s vaccination plan with President Biden’s recent directive to make eligible pre-K-12 school staff and child care providers, regardless of age.” This announcement did not include higher education.

3. Local News. Early this week CMMC posted news that Central Maine Healthcare, the State of Maine, the City of Auburn, and the City of Lewiston will launch a regional high-volume COVID-19 vaccination site at the Auburn Mall on March 17. This news release directs local residents over 60 to “check availability, book an appointment, or find out more about the high-volume vaccination site, visit cmhc.org or telephone the Central Maine Healthcare COVID vaccine call center at 207-520-2917.”

Taken together these statements are indications for cautious optimism. The government is accelerating the acquisition of vaccines, and the state is providing more explicit eligibility information while our local healthcare providers and city leadership work together to increase vaccine delivery to people. We need to take the good news with the reminder that our core public health measures—wear, watch, wash—with a foundation of testing, are essential to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and must be maintained until more vaccines are administered, and incidence and mortality is decreased.

We continue to be in communication with our local partners to be sure we are helpful in their efforts, and will update the campus when we have more information.

Thanks,

Geoff