Maine will receive a significant increase in vaccine allocations next week.
Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah says the state will get about 45,200 vaccine doses — a 28% increase from this week. He says that comes from a one-time increase of about 3,500 Pfizer doses, as well as more than 6,500 additional doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Shah says the J&J vaccine doesn’t require ultracold freezing, making it easier to reach rural and homebound Mainers.
“So this week, we will be able to make allocations to hospitals in Millinocket and Skowhegan, as well as to EMS agencies from Buxton to Buckfield, who will both be receive doses of the J&J vaccine, so they can vaccinate in their communities,” he says.
Shah says even with that increase, there is still capacity to administer significantly more vaccine doses across the state.
Shah's announcement comes as the Maine Center for Disease Control identifies 218 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. That is a bit higher than the state’s one-week average of just under 200 cases.
With no new deaths added, the state’s death toll remains at 731.
