We have previously been vaccinating group 1a and patients 50+ and are looking to vaccinate other populations shortly.
Governor Janet Mills has announced that all Maine residents aged 18 and over now qualify for vaccination, and beginning April 19, all Mainers 16 and over will qualify for vaccination.
Your GPH provider will contact you as soon as you are eligible to receive your vaccine. Please note that this is dependent on vaccine allocation and availability.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine that may prevent COVID-19. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of this vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in people 18 years of age and older.
In an ongoing clinical trial, the Moderna vaccine has been shown to prevent COVID-19 following two doses. The Moderna vaccine was shown to be 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in people who received two doses and who had not been previously infected. The vaccine appeared to have high effectiveness in clinical trials among people of diverse age, sex, race, and ethnicity categories as well as persons with underlying medical conditions.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection into muscle. The vaccine is administered in a series of 2 doses given 1 month apart. We are also asking that patients stay with us for a 15-minute observation period after receiving their vaccine.
Some side effects have been reported with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. These include:
There is a small chance that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may cause a severe allergic reaction. While uncommon, a severe reaction will typically occur within a few minutes to an hour after receiving a dose. For this reason, patients are asked to stay for at least 15 minutes of observation.
The Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that is recommended in individuals over the age of 18. According to the CDC, this type of vaccine uses a modified and harmless form virus of to deliver genetic instructions to our cells, which helps our immune systems better recognize and respond to COVID-19.
In clinical trials, the J&J vaccine was found to be 66.3% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in participants who had no signs of previous infection two weeks after receiving the vaccine. These trials suggest that the vaccine has thus far been very effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization in those who contracted COVID post-vaccination. Early evidence also indicates that the J&J vaccine could help prevent the asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 in vaccinated individuals.
The J&J COVID-19 vaccine is administered as an injection into the muscle of the upper arm. Unlike Moderna and Pfizer, the J&J vaccine is given only once. For the health and safety of our patients, we are asking that individuals stay with us for a 15-minute observation period after receiving their vaccine.
Some side effects have been reported with the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. These usually occur within the first 7 days of vaccination and are most common in those between the ages of 18 and 59. Possible side effects include:
There is a small chance that the J&J COVID-19 vaccine may cause a severe allergic reaction. While uncommon, a severe reaction will typically occur within a few minutes to an hour after receiving a dose. For this reason, patients are asked to stay for at least 15 minutes of observation.
For information regarding COVID-19 illness, please see our page: Coronavirus Info
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"I have hope that this vaccine will foster health and safety in our community in months to come. I am hopeful that our community can return to the activities that bring us joy as the vaccine reaches more people. I feel grateful to have received it early, as it helps keep my patients safe in our healthcare visits."
"I think it's extremely important to get the vaccine if you are able to do so - for public health, in order to end this pandemic, or at least curb its spread. If you're uneasy, call your nurses, call your doctor, get some more information, do your research. We're happy to provide that information for the public, as well."
"I think it is of overwhelming importance that everyone who gets the opportunity to get the vaccine does take that opportunity so that we can protect ourselves, our families and those most vulnerable in our society from COVID-19. The last year has denied us so many pleasures and has brought us so much loss, and I believe the vaccine is the best tool in our arsenal in helping us regain a semblance of our pre-COVID lives."
