Older Americans and other groups particularly vulnerable to the virus have had access to a third dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine since September.
Health
More than 2,000 Maine schoolchildren get COVID shots in first week of vaccinations
As vaccinations ramp up for 5-to-11-year-olds, Maine reports 938 new COVID-19 cases over a 3-day period and 8 more deaths.
Vaccine rule should remain while cases play out, administration argues
The Biden administration responds to a stay issued by the New Orleans-based U.S. appeals court, saying it would ‘cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day.’
Clinics race to vaccinate newly eligible children as school outbreaks, cases remain high
Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine CDC director, said the pandemic is at a ‘high plateau’ and elevated case counts are likely to continue.
U.K. authorizes Merck’s antiviral pill, first shown to treat COVID-19
The drug, molnupiravir, was licensed for adults 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have at least one risk factor for developing severe disease.
First vaccinations given to young children as COVID keeps tight grip on Maine
The rates of infections and deaths in Maine remain high as schools and healthcare providers ramp up to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11.
Maine reports 862 new cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period
In response to U.S. CDC approval, Maine is expected to begin administering vaccines to 5- to 11-year-olds as soon as next week.
Hundreds of Maine health care workers leave jobs over vaccine mandate, but most stay
Hospitals had a compliance rate of 95% or higher as the mandate took effect Friday.
Augusta-based MaineGeneral loses 191 employees, about 4% of workforce, over COVID vaccine mandate
The staffing disclosure came following last week’s deadline for the state’s health care workers to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
MaineHealth receives $1.5 million to help study long-term COVID-19 effects
The study is designed to determine why some people suffer prolonged symptoms or develop new or returning symptoms.