Mainers age 50 and over are now eligible for Covid-19 vaccinations. Beginning April 19th, everyone 16 and over will be eligible. However, many people have been having trouble registering for an appointment. Maine has opened up a new website, VaccinateME.Maine.gov, where you can pre-register for an appointment, get a personal access code, and you will be notified when slots become available. For people who do not have access to a computer, or have difficulty with online registration, there is also a community vaccination helpline: 1-888-445-4111.You can view all the latest information, including a list of vaccination sites statewide, here: www.maine.gov/covid19/vaccinesA few tips: when registering for an appointment online, be prepared to wait 15 or 20 minutes. Don’t sign off, even if it appears that nothing is happening on the screen – you will lose your place in the queue. Have your insurance and healthcare information ready; the faster you can enter the information, the more likely you are to get a slot. Remember that you can sign up at any location in Maine. I received both shots at Bangor (Cross Center) because there were far more slots available (and none in Ellsworth at the time). Friends have also received shots at Walmart, Walgreens, Blue Hill Hospital, and other sites, so look for a location that is manageable for you. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, including a 15-minute post-vaccination waiting time to make sure you are not having an adverse reaction. Quick, easy, incredibly well-organized.
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