Patty Wight

Scarborough Downs will soon become the site of Maine’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated what advocates say was already a crisis shortage of long-term care workers in Maine. That has left more older adults without the medical support they need to age at home.

COVID-19 vaccinations for people 70 and older are underway in Maine, marking the beginning stages of Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan. But demand for vaccines is far outstripping the state’s supply.

MaineHealth began taking appointments for people 70 and older this week, and Chief Health Improvement Officer, Dr. Dora Mills, says their call center was flooded with requests. On Monday, she says, 18,000 people tried to get a slot.

“Actually, I understand we had about 70,000 calls,” she says, “but they were from about 18,000 people.”

Maine’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout will continue as planned despite news Friday that the Trump administration does not have a backup supply of doses to boost state allocations as expected.

Gov. Janet Mills is revising the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan to expand who is included in the current phase, 1A, and who comes next, in Phase 1B. The changes re-prioritize adults 70 and older and those with high-risk medical conditions, as well as certain workers.

President-elect Joe Biden announced on Friday that he wants to release nearly all available doses of the COVID-19 vaccine after he takes office on Jan. 20.