The first COVID-19 vaccination in Maine was administered Dec. 16 to a Maine Medical Center intensive care unit nurse. Vaccinations may follow to Lincoln County within the next week or two. LincolnHealth spokesman John Martins reported on Dec. 16 a shipment of Moderna vaccinations is tentatively scheduled. “We may receive it next week,” he said. “The first couple of shipments won’t be very large. Right now, we are prioritizing our front line workers as the first to receive a vaccination.”

Martins reported the number of doses expected “varies.” The largest estimate was for 600 Moderna doses, but the hospital has not received an official confirmation. In the meantime, LincolnHealth is creating a vaccination priority list. Martins said the list would include all hospital personnel working in the emergency department, intensive care unit and in-patient care workers. 

LincolnHealth may not be the only location for vaccinations. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported the Waldoboro and Boothbay Region ambulance services will administer future vaccines to public safety personnel such as law, EMS, fire and 9-1-1. 

County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens and Boothbay Region Ambulance Director Scott Lash reported they were both waiting for official confirmation. “We are still working through that process. Nothing has been confirmed by the CDC, yet,” Lash said. “They have not given us any information, if we are selected or whether it would be available for the public. Like everything with COVID, it’s very dynamic. So you don’t know anything until all the sudden you know.”