State of Maine, FEMA Partner on Mobile Vaccination Unit to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines to Rural, Under-Served Communities Across Maine

The State of Maine and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today a partnership to launch a groundbreaking mobile vaccination unit that will provide COVID-19 vaccinations to people in rural and under-served communities across Maine.

The mobile vaccination unit (MVU), which is only the second of its kind in New England, will begin providing COVID-19 vaccines to Maine people starting next Monday, April 12, 2021, at the Oxford Casino in Oxford. The MVU will then travel to ten additional rural or under-served communities across Maine - including Fryeburg, Calais, and Madawaska, among others - over the next two months. The MVU is expected to vaccinate at least 250 people per day, utilizing the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in order to maximize efficiency.

"We're excited to partner with the State of Maine on this joint effort to provide a vaccine to people in America who want one," said Paul Ford, Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer for COVID-19 in FEMA Region 1. "The ability for this unit to travel to hard to reach populations and meet people where they are is a great asset to support the residents of Maine and continue the fight against COVID-19."

The eleven communities were determined by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine Emergency Management Agency, and FEMA in part based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index, which utilizes 15 U.S. census variables to help local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters.

Appointments are required to receive a vaccination at the MVU. State, county, and local partners - including municipalities and community-based organizations - are coordinating outreach to local Maine residents, particularly high-risk and vulnerable residents, in each of the host communities to assist with scheduling appointments for locals. To check appointment availability at the Oxford Casino site, Oxford County residents may call the State's Community Vaccination Line at 1-888-445-4111. Information on scheduling appointments at the other stops will become available on the state vaccination website in the coming days.

The MVU will be run by staff provided by FEMA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Public Health Service, and others, with support from State and local Emergency Medical Services, local health care providers and volunteers.

To date, 463,662 Maine people have received their first dose of the vaccine - more than 41 percent of Maine people age 16 and older, with more than 28 percent being fully vaccinated. Maine is currently 4th best nationwide for the percentage of its population with at least one dose of vaccine and currently ranks 5th best nationwide for the percentage of its population fully vaccinated.

A list of the MVU's scheduled stops, which are subject to change, are as follows:

More information on vaccination for people in Maine is available at Maine's COVID-19 vaccine website.

Finding Help in Maine is Easier than Ever with 211Maine.org

Finding help for complex needs like shelter, substance use, mental health, or food access can be challenging. Fortunately, 211 Maine is available to all Mainers, and now accessible through a new, user friendly website enabling visitors to initiate a search for help, day or night.

211 Maine is a free, confidential resource for people of all ages to access local health and human services information. People can find help in their area by dialing 211 and talking with a trained and friendly specialist, by texting their zip code to 898-211, or by searching the now improved online directory at 211Maine.org.

“Sometimes finding the right resources can be overwhelming,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, United Way of Greater Portland President and CEO and President of the 211 Maine Board of Directors. “The new 211 Maine website will improve access to community-based resources and programs by making it easier for people to find the services they need when they need them.”

The new design prioritizes the user. The changes improve the search experience with features such as pre-populated search buttons and filtering options. Search results can now be filtered based on key factors like insurance level or veteran status. While the look and feel of the search have changed, the same statewide information about health and human services is available.

“While 211 Specialists are available here in Maine any time of day or night to talk or text with people, not everyone is willing to start their search for help by asking someone,” shared Nikki Busmanis, 211 Maine Program Manager. “Many people want to begin looking on their own online and searching the 211 website.”

Since 2006 when 211 Maine became a statewide service, over 800,000 calls for assistance have been received. 211 fields thousands of calls every month from people looking for help for themselves or someone they know. In collaboration with the State of Maine, 211 Maine became a primary source of information for COVID-19 in March, tripling the number of incoming calls.

211 Maine is a collaborative effort of the United Ways of Maine, the State of Maine, and The Opportunity Alliance as the Contact Center Partner.

Maine State Park Passes:

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Enjoy Maine's state parks all summer long! With a Maine State Park Pass, you can visit state parks and historic sites without paying day-use fees for the season. Before visiting, consult the Outdoors in ME brochure for information about parks in Maine.

Important Information

• You will not receive your pass immediately after payment. It will take up to 7-10 business days for you to receive it by mail.
• Purchase it at a Park if you want to use it immediately.
• The Bureau of Parks and Lands is not responsible for undelivered, lost, destroyed, or stolen park passes that are purchased through this website. Replacement passes will be sold at the original purchase price.
• Please note that park passes are not accepted at Acadia National Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Maine Wildlife Park, Peacock Beach, Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Penobscot River Corridor, Scarborough Beach, Songo Lock or Swan Island. View a list of participating parks and fees.
• The Maine State Park Pass is for day-use only and does not include camping.
• August 15th of each year, we begin selling the next year's pass. For example: if you purchase a pass on 8/15/20, you will receive a 2021 Maine State Park Pass which is good for the remainder of 2020 and all of the next calendar year 2021.
• When you receive the park pass, sign it if you purchased it for yourself, or if giving it as a gift the recipient should sign it on the signature line.
• Photocopies or electronic photos of park passes are not accepted.

What you will need:

To purchase a park pass, you will need the following information:

• Valid credit or debit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).
• Mailing information for the pass
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Fees

• $55 for an Individual Park Pass (admits the person who signed the pass)
• $105 per Vehicle Park Pass (valid for the person who signed the pass and all occupants in up to a maximum size 17-passenger vehicle)
• If you are a Maine resident and 65 years of age or older, you are admitted free with proof of age, no park pass needed. Purchase the special Annual Vehicle Senior Pass ($45) at any Maine State Park (proof of age is required - senior must be present).

Maine IF&W Online ATV Registration:

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This online service allows you to register your ATV with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Following your payment, you will receive a temporary registration form to print for immediate use. Your official registration and stickers will arrive at the shipping address specified within 30 business days.

ATV registrations are valid from July 1st through June 30th. ATV registrations submitted on or before April 30th will expire on June 30th of the current year. ATV registrations submitted on or after May 1st will expire on June 30th of the following year.

Businesses that wish to renew their ATV or Snowmobile CANNOT use the online system and must renew at the town office.

Who can use this service?

• Maine residents renewing an ATV registration.  New registrations must be done through a registration agent or the IF&W main office in Augusta.
• Non-residents may register ATVs online. Non-residents may do both renewal and new registrations online.

What are the fees?

• ATV Registration Fees
• $46 (Resident)
• $76 (Non Resident 7 Day Registration)
• $91 (Non Resident Full Season)

What you will need

• Registered Owner information
• Vehicle Information
• Credit/debit card (MasterCard, Visa)
• A printer in order to print a copy of your temporary registration

Legislative Office: 207-287-1440