MRH resumes weekly COVID-19 booster clinics
By Shelley Farrington Lincoln News • January 6, 2022
KATAHDIN REGION – New Year, same goal. Officials at Millinocket Regional Hospital have announced the restart of their Moderna Booster Clinics every Wednesday in January from 4 – 6 p.m. at Stearns High School.
According to information provided by MRH booster shots are recommended for anyone over the age of 18 who is at least six months out of their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months out for a J&J vaccine.
The approval for booster for ages 12 to 17 years is expected by the Maine CDC (following the recommendations for the US Centers for Disease Control) and MRH Marketing Director Katie Mackin said talks are ongoing with MRH Infection Preventionist Todd Phillips, RN, BSN, MPH about how to facilitate the Pfizer booster for students and children that age.
The success of the in school shot clinics for students before Christmas have provided a good roadmap for continued clinics and officials said they will always explore safe ways to bring additional services to the region’s young people.
In the meantime adult booster clinics will be held Jan. 5, Jan. 12, Jan. 19 and Jan. 26 with a noted time change of 4-6 p.m. (Previous clinics had started at 3 p.m.). They will continue to be held at the Stearns High Gym and it is a walk-in clinic with no appointment needed.
Phillips said the arrival of the highly contagious Omicron Variant has made the need for boosters even more important than before. There is scientific evidence now that shows booster shots give the immunity system a new jump start in protection against the different variants. It is another way to keep yourself and your community safe.
“The New Year provides new opportunities for MRH to continue working with the surrounding communities and keep our citizens young and old safe. MRH will continue to strive to provide the most up-to-date information on the battle against COVID.”
Citizens who are seeking their first or second Covid vaccine can make an appointment themselves or can assist another family or friend by going to www.mrhme.org/getvax
Anyone with questions or wanting more information on COVID can also submit questions using the mrhme.org/askcovid web address or contact your local health care provider.