Starting in July 2026, Maine’s Universal Immunization Program will expand vaccine access to adults aged 19 through 64 statewide.
The Universal Childhood Immunization Program, launched in 2012, provides vaccines to children from birth through 18 years. In June 2025 legislation was passed, expanding access to include adults 19 through 64 years.
Vaccines for both children and adults will be available through participating healthcare providers using a single, streamlined system. Providers will be able to order all recommended vaccines through the Maine Immunization Program, regardless of their patient population.
In the coming months, the Maine Immunization Program will be sending communications to keep healthcare systems and providers updated on next steps.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is announcing that four additional cases of measles have been confirmed in Maine. That brings the current total number of lab-confirmed cases in Maine to five, though there are no new exposure locations associated with these diagnoses and no new exposure risks for the public.
These new cases follow the DepartmentsFebruary 6, 2026 announcement of the first confirmed case of measles in Maine since 2019. Maine defines a measles outbreak as three or more cases in unrelated households that share an epidemiological link. As of today, Maine does not have a measles outbreak.
It’s not too late to protect the vulnerable. Administration of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) preventive antibodies to infants younger than age 8 months who are unprotected from RSV is crucial to provide them immediate protection as RSV activity rises in many communities. High-risk older infants and toddlers age 8 months through 19 months experiencing their second RSV season (October – March) can also benefit from protection with RSV preventive antibodies now.
Starting next week (February 23), McKesson will temporarily transition from electronic TagAlert temperature monitors to chemical temperature monitors in refrigerated vaccine shipments due to a shortage of TagAlerts. We anticipate resuming the use of electronic TagAlert monitors in refrigerated vaccine shipments by mid- to late April.
The McKesson Distribution Centers will temporarily begin shipping refrigerated coolers using the following warm and cold temperature indicators.
Coolers will contain a warm temperature indicator known as SpotSee(Figure A).
Coolers will contain one of two different cold temperature indicator cards – the FREEZEmarkerindicator (Figure B) or the TransTracker C indicator (Figure C). Both cold temperature indicators serve the same purpose. Providers will not receive both indicators in the same cooler. Please ensure that the provider follows the same process for checking temperature excursions similar to using the directions in Figure B.
See the Shipment Flyer for examples of the Warm Indicator (Figure A for SpotSee) and Cold Temperature Indicators (Figure B for FREEZEmarkerand Figure C for TransTracker C)
Note that Immunize. org’s standing orders templates for COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are updated annually, and changes will be made when the next seasonal updates are available. The AAP recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination are already listed in the COVID-19 vaccine template.
The use of standing orders for vaccination facilitates the delivery of immunization services to patients in clinics, hospitals, and community settings. Standing orders have been shown to increase vaccination coverage rates.
Immunize.org has updated fifteen standing orders templates for administering immunizations with additional information have been posted here.
In addition, the following templates, which address vaccination during pregnancy, are compatible with recommendations of both American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and AAP:
If you have any questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at: Main Line: (207) 287-3746 ImmPact Helpdesk: (207) 287-3006 / Support/Education: (207) 287-9972
