Maine Follows In CT's Footsteps For Coronavirus Vaccine Roll-Out

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut will no longer be alone in the age-based coronavirus vaccine roll-out now that Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced her state would take a similar approach.

Mills announced that Maine residents 60 and older could get the shot beginning March 3 and that people 50 and older would be eligible in April. People 40 and older would be eligible in May and people over 30 will be eligible in June. Everyone else will be eligible in July.

Mills has also directed the Maine’s health department to prioritize vaccinations for preK-12 school staff. Unlike Connecticut, a Maine educator would still have to fall into the age categories to be eligible for the vaccine

Maine’s roll-out schedule is also less aggressive than Connecticut’s. Gov. Ned Lamont has set a target date of early May for people 16 and over to be eligible for the vaccine.

Related: White House Sounds Off On Lamont's Coronavirus Vaccine Decision

“I believe this approach is the best option to save lives and ensure the vaccine can be administered to as many people as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” Mills said in a statement. “We are undertaking the largest mass vaccination effort in history, and I am grateful to Maine people for their understanding and patience as we make adjustments to reflect the latest science and get shots into arms as quickly as we can.”

Mills pointed out that 98 percent of coronavirus-related deaths in her state were among people 50 and older. That is largely in line with Connecticut’s rate where 96 percent of deaths have been among people 55 and older.

Both Mills and Lamont have said an onerous eligibility system to determine who is a front-line essential worker and what health conditions apply would slow down the administration process.