PORTLAND, Maine – MaineHealth has begun vaccinating Maine residents ages 70+ against COVID-19 at a clinic established for this purpose in Westbrook. Eligible patients are being vaccinated by appointment only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., six days a week.
Among the first to receive their vaccine at the Westbrook clinic on Monday, Jan. 25, was 80-year-old Carol Fredriksen of Falmouth.
“You need protection and vaccination is the way to go,” Fredriksen said. “Don’t fear it. Go for it.”
“We seniors are going to set the example and hopefully everyone will follow to get this pandemic under control,” said 83-year-old Pat Cappelletti of Cumberland who also received the vaccine Monday, along with her 83-year-old husband, Jim.
The Westbrook clinic expects to vaccinate more than 1,800 people during the week of Jan. 25. Patients wishing to make an appointment for vaccination should call 1-877-780-7545 or visit mainehealth.org/vaccine. You do not need to be a MaineHealth patient to receive a vaccination at any MaineHealth clinic.
“MaineHealth is pleased to be able to begin vaccinating some of our most vulnerable patients in Group 1B here in greater Portland. The ingenuity and inter-professional collaboration among our care team members who have established this clinic has been impressive,” said Joel Botler, M.D., Maine Medical Partners President and Maine Medical Center Chief Medical Officer. “We are prepared to serve many more people once supply is able to keep pace with demand. In the meantime, we appreciate the patience of our community.”
B-roll and photos of patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines is available for download and free for media to use at this link. Courtesy: MaineHealth
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About Maine Medical Center
Maine Medical Center (MMC), recognized as a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News and World Report for 2020-2021, is a complete health care resource for the people of Greater Portland and the entire state, as well as northern New England. Incorporated in 1868, MMC is the state’s largest medical center, licensed for 637 beds and employing more than 9,600 people. MMC's unique role as both a community hospital and a referral center requires an unparalleled depth and breadth of services, including an active educational program and a world-class biomedical research center. As a nonprofit institution, Maine Medical Center provides nearly 23 percent of all the charity care delivered in Maine. MMC is part of the MaineHealth system, a growing family of health care services in northern New England. For more information, visit www.mmc.org.