Lincoln County public safety personnel received the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 1 and 2. Maine Center for Disease Control has designated Waldoboro Emergency Medical Service and Boothbay Region Ambulance Service as vaccination providers. Waldoboro EMS inoculated 52 and Boothbay Region inoculated 44. BRAS Executive Director Scott Lash reported a follow-up shot will occur later this month. Maine CDC advises a second shot be administered 28-32 days after the first. 

Special training BRAS and Waldoboro EMS personnel received included identifying potential negative reactions. Lash described it as “quite an intensive process.”

Maine CDC has designated public safety personnel as the first to receive vaccinations. Public safety personnel from around Lincoln County will schedule appointments with Waldoboro and Boothbay Region. “They call us and we schedule a time for them to come here,” Lash said.

So far, BRAS, Waldoboro EMS and Lincoln Health Miles Campus and Hospital are the only facilities in Lincoln County providing initial COVID-19 vaccinations. 

John Martins of LincolnHealth said Monday, Jan. 11 that nearly 590 LincolnHealth employees have received vaccinations this month. The hospital is starting to vaccinate community members in high-risk COVID-19 categories. 

"We've also begun outreach to area health care providers not affiliated with LincolnHealth to offer them the vaccine. I think we’ve extended around 150 offers thus far," he said. “At St. Andrews, 71% of team members and 94% residents received the first dose. At Cove's Edge, 41% of team members and 79% of residents received it."

This article has been updated from its original posting.