PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - More women than men are getting vaccinated against the coronavirus in Maine.
The trend in Maine reflects a broader trend around the country, as many states have reported similar results. Nearly 58% of the people who have received their final dose in the state have been women.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention also reported Tuesday that nearly 56% of the people receiving a first dose of the vaccine have been women. About 55% of the state’s eligible population has had its first dose and 43% has had its final dose.
Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said one explanation for the gap is that workforces that include a high percentage of women, such as education and health care, received earlier access to the vaccines.
Maine CDC also reported that people in their 60s are getting more coronavirus vaccines than other age groups. More than 140,000 people in their 60s have had their final dose of the vaccine. That’s nearly 30% of the final doses that have been administered in the state.
THE NUMBERS
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Maine did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 364 new cases per day on April 12 to 352 new cases per day on April 26.
The figure reflects lower numbers over the past couple of days, including 261 infections reported on Wednesday by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. One death also was reported Wednesday.
VACCINATION CENTERS
Two mass vaccination clinics in Greater Portland are opening to walk-in patients while another vaccination center in Bangor may close at the end of next month.
The Portland Expo will allow a limited number of doses for walk-ins based on the weekly shipments to the clinic run by Northern Light Mercy Hospital, according to spokesperson Ed Gilman. Also, the Scarborough Downs site run by MaineHealth will offer walk-in clinics next week, officials said.
Meanwhile, Northern Light has a tentative plan to close the vaccination center at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor at the end of May.
About half of eligible Mainers have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and Northern Light anticipates people scheduling appointments will go down, said spokesperson Suzanne Spruce.
SPORTS RULES
The Maine Principals’ Association is updating guidelines for mask use at outdoor events following new guidance from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Masks won’t be required for outdoor practices and competitions, but athletes on the bench will be required to wear them, said Michael Burnham, MPA executive director.
Spectators can skip the masks, as well, as long as they maintain 6 feet (2 meters) of distancing, he said.
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