Maine CDC vaccine planning with communities and schools is well underway. There are several areas we are focused on right now:
1. Maine CDC is working with Maine Department of Education (DOE) to assure that all Maine children are offered seasonal (regular) and H1N1 vaccine in local schools. As of Monday August 31st, our toll free H1N1 number (1-888-257-0990) is staffed 9 am – 5 pm with professionals from Maine CDC and DOE to assist schools and partnering health care providers in this effort. We will refer a District Vaccine Coordinator to those schools and/or health care providers who need more direct assistance in this effort.
2. Maine CDC is working with the Regional Resource Centers at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Central Maine Medical Center, and Maine Medical Center, to assure that all health care providers and Emergency Medical Services personnel (EMS) are offered H1N1 vaccine during the first few weeks of its arrival.
3. Maine CDC is working with clinicians who provide health care for pregnant women to assure they have H1N1 vaccine for their patients and themselves as soon as it arrives in Maine.
4. Maine CDC will also be working with residential schools, employers, and health care providers to assure all others in the high-risk groups for H1N1 are offered vaccine.
Governor’s Declaration:
Governor John E. Baldacci on September 1, 2009 signed a Proclamation of Civil Emergency Due to a Highly Infectious Agent to allow the State to better respond to the potential dangers of H1N1 flu and to facilitate a statewide vaccination campaign.
Many school districts reported that a concern about potential liability was putting at risk their ability to participate in vaccination clinics. The proclamation protects school districts and other vaccination clinic participants from liability. The proclamation also will provide immunity from tort liability for approved health care workers who administer the flu vaccines. The Maine CDC, DOE, and MEMA will coordinate and facilitate the implementation of school supported vaccine clinics for both the seasonal flu and H1N1.
The press release and the declaration itself can be found at:
Additional information is available at:
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