vaccine

As the Biden administration increases vaccine supplies to state, and Maine's mass vaccination sites offer more shots, COVID-19 cases are dropping.

Dr. Nirav Shah, director, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, returns to answer your questions about COVID-19, vaccination prioritization, testing, new virus variants and more.

As the majority of Americans wait for their turn to get their Covid-19 vaccine, questions abound over what justifies one group to take priority over another. We discuss the ethical questions that arise in how vaccines are allocated and developed—and what these questions say about the moral values of our society.

Jessica Miller, clinical ethicist; professor of philosophy, University of Maine

Dr. James Jarvis, physician leader for incident command, Northern Light Health

We discuss the rapid developments in how the pandemic is taking its toll in Maine. Mainers over 70 can now get vaccinated against COVID-19, but problems with supply and distribution continue to slow the process. At the same time, the spread of the virus continues at an alarming rate, and COVID-19 variants raise new concerns.

As the numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to surge and vaccines are gradually being administered, our medical experts update us on the status of the pandemic in Maine.

They’ll answer questions about the vaccine, testing, treatment, spread of the disease and how health care facilities are handling high numbers of patients.

Dr. Dora Mills, chief health improvement officer, MaineHealth

Dr. Michael Schmitz, specialist in emergency medicine and internal medicine, Southern Maine Health Care

Dr. Nirav Shah returns to answer questions about the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases, the start of vaccine distribution in Maine, and what to expect with the state's response to the pandemic in the new year.

Dr. Nirav Shah, director, Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, joins us to discuss the arrival of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Maine and how they will be administered, as well as the state’s response to the escalating pandemic. As always, Dr. Shah will answer listener questions about safety, face coverings, testing, contact tracing and more.

We talk with medical experts about what is causing the surge in Covid-19 cases, new recommendations on preventing transmission, advances in testing and treatments, and what the latest vaccine developments mean for Mainers.

The rapid surge in COVID-19 cases in Maine mirrors what's happening elsewhere, but is alarming for a state that has maintained some of the lowest rates in the country. 

Nirav Shah, director, Maine CDC, joins us to discuss the strategy and outlook for containing the virus as well as administering the vaccine to Mainers, and answers listener questions.

As the state sees increased COVID-19 cases yet keeps our overall positivity rate low, we talk with Nirav Shah, director, Maine Center for Disease Control, about the trajectory of the pandemic here in Maine.

We discuss the latest research and information about Covid-19, including risk factors, long-term effects, and vaccine progress. We'll also hear the medical perspective about questions raised by President Trump's symptoms and treatment for the disease—including what we know about therapeutics and immunity. 

Two experts join us to discuss the latest medical news about COVID-19: new information about transmission of the virus; evidence of chronic symptoms; effects on children; new treatments and therapies; testing for the virus and its antibodies; the prospects for a vaccine and how that will impact the pandemic.

All discussions about the end of the Covid-19 pandemic hinge on having a viable vaccine. We examine what it will take for this coveted vaccine to reach the stage where it can be widely administered, and can offer the necessary protection that will enable people worldwide to begin to return to normal life. We'll learn how research is progressing, how safety and efficacy will be tested, what it will take for the vaccine to be administered en masse, and how long it takes to be effective. And the big question: When can we expect all of this to happen?

While we have all gained some measure of expertise on COVID-19, a steady stream of new research and information about the disease continues to raise more questions. What are the different ways this disease can affect the body? Do we know more about the ways it is transmitted, or about immunity? We’ll find out how scientific and medical research informs decisions regarding what makes sense regarding quarantines and re-opening.

New information and research continues to emerge regarding COVID-19. We will discuss the evolving knowledge about the disease, including: a range of different symptoms; promising treatment; testing for both the virus itself, and for antibodies to the virus; and development of a vaccine. How are medical and scientific experts seeking answers to the many unknowns of this pandemic?