Doctors press vaccinations as Maine sets records for COVID-19 hospitalizations

Health care experts explain why fight against omicron is a 'numbers game' as hospitalizations soar

Health care experts explain why fight against omicron is a 'numbers game' as hospitalizations soar

ADMINISTRATION TO GO AHEAD WITH A VACCINE MANDATE FOR MOST HEALTH CARE WORKE. WITH OMICRON FUELING THE SURGE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS... HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINAT. ED WMTW NEWS 8'S ROSS KETSCHKE IS LIVE TSOUIDE A CLINIC IN SOUTH PORTLAND WITH WHY DOCTS OR SAY THE GHFIT AGAINST THIS VARIANT IS A NUMBERS GAME RI GHT RIGHT AS THE DOORS ONEPED AT THIS CLINIC. .. TREHE WAS A GUP RO OF PEOPLE READY TO COME IN AND GET VACCINATED <02:55:40:04 DOA NN MACKAY, GETTING BOOSTER DOSE "WE WENT IN AND IT WAS QUICK AND EFFICIENT. TY HE WERE PERNASOBLE AND IT WAS GREAT."> IT'S BOOSTER DAY FOR DONNA AND LINDA MAAY... CK GETTING THEIR SHOTS AT THIS PIER 1 STORE - TRANSFORMED INTO A WALK- IN VACCINATION CLINIC IN SOUTH PORTLAND. <02:56:21:11 DONNA MACKAY "YOU KNOW JUST GET IT DONE TO HELP THE ENRONMVIENT.> < LINDA MACKAY "HELP OTHER PEOPLE"> <02:45:23:13 CATHY BEAN, CLINICAL MANAGER NORTHERN LIGHT HEALTH "FIRST DOSE, SECOND DOSE, BOOSTER. IT DOES NOT MATTER. "> AT CHY BEAN IS MANAGING THE SITE FOR NORTHERN LIGHT HEALTH... OFFERING THE PFIZER, MODERNA AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINES. <02:45:37:06 CATHY BEAN, CLINICAL MANAGER NORTHERN LHTIG HEALTH "WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE KEEPING FROM BEING SERIOUSLY ILL AND KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND KEEPING PEOPLE FROM áDYINGá"> THAT PROTECTION IS AS IMPORTANT AS ER.VE WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT FUELING A SURGE OF CASES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WHI DLEATA SHOWS THE VARIANT CAN CAUSE LESS- SEVERE DISEASE... DR. GAVIN DUCKER SAYS THE SHIER VOLUME OF NEW INFECTIONS IS DRIVING HOSPITALIZATIONS TO THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE PANDEMIC. <00:23:20:16 DR. GAVIN DUCKER "SO, IT'S A NUMBERS GAME. IF THE NUMR BE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS OVERWHELMING, IT'S INEVITABLE THAT A PROPORTION OF THOSE WILL END UP IN THE HOSPITAL."> BEAN SAYS EVERY SHOT IS IMPORTANT... BUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO SEE MOST IS MORE PEOPLE COMING IN FOR THEIR FIRST DOSE... OFFERING TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THESE VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. THIS CLINIC IS OPEN UNTIL 7 THIS EVENING THEN IS BACK AGAIN TOMORROW AT AGAIN - NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED AND ALL THREE DOSES ARE AVAILA

Doctors press vaccinations as Maine sets records for COVID-19 hospitalizations

Health care experts explain why fight against omicron is a 'numbers game' as hospitalizations soar

Health care professionals in Maine are pressing the importance of vaccinations as the state sets records for people hospitalized with COVID-19. On Thursday, the Maine CDC reported a new high of 436 people in the hospital with the virus, an increase of 23 patients from the previous record set just the day before. Thursday afternoon, Northern Light Health reopened their "booster blitz" vaccination clinic at the former Pier 1 Imports at the Maine Mall. The clinic was open for walk-ins, offering all three doses for Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines for anyone 5 and older. "We know that they're keeping from being seriously ill and keeping people out of the hospital and keeping people from dying," said Cathy Bean, the site's clinical manager for community health and telehealth for Northern Light. Bean said as the omicron variant spreads rapidly throughout the state, getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves against getting seriously sick. According to health experts, while early data has shown the omicron variant leads to less-severe disease in some cases, the sheer volume of new cases has driven the surge in people getting hospitalized. "It's a numbers game," explained Dr. Gavin Ducker, co-president of Northern Light Health on Wednesday. "If the number of community members is overwhelming, it's inevitable that a proportion of those will end up in the hospital."As of Thursday, Maine's 7-day average of new daily cases was at 1,037, up from 709 at the start of January. The surge in hospitalizations has stressed Maine's health care system, limiting available staff and creating challenging working conditions for hospital employees. The Pier 1 clinic location will be open from 1-7 p.m. on Friday offering all doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. Walk-ins are welcome. Bean said she is available to address any concerns patients might have about the vaccines, which have been proven safe and effective. Find information on finding a COVID-19 test in your area here.

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine —

Health care professionals in Maine are pressing the importance of vaccinations as the state sets records for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

On Thursday, the Maine CDC reported a new high of 436 people in the hospital with the virus, an increase of 23 patients from the previous record set just the day before.

Thursday afternoon, Northern Light Health reopened their "booster blitz" vaccination clinic at the former Pier 1 Imports at the Maine Mall. The clinic was open for walk-ins, offering all three doses for Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines for anyone 5 and older.

"We know that they're keeping from being seriously ill and keeping people out of the hospital and keeping people from dying," said Cathy Bean, the site's clinical manager for community health and telehealth for Northern Light.

Bean said as the omicron variant spreads rapidly throughout the state, getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves against getting seriously sick.

According to health experts, while early data has shown the omicron variant leads to less-severe disease in some cases, the sheer volume of new cases has driven the surge in people getting hospitalized.

"It's a numbers game," explained Dr. Gavin Ducker, co-president of Northern Light Health on Wednesday. "If the number of community members is overwhelming, it's inevitable that a proportion of those will end up in the hospital."

As of Thursday, Maine's 7-day average of new daily cases was at 1,037, up from 709 at the start of January.

The surge in hospitalizations has stressed Maine's health care system, limiting available staff and creating challenging working conditions for hospital employees.

The Pier 1 clinic location will be open from 1-7 p.m. on Friday offering all doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson. Walk-ins are welcome.

Bean said she is available to address any concerns patients might have about the vaccines, which have been proven safe and effective.

Find information on finding a COVID-19 test in your area here.

Doctors press vaccinations as Maine sets records for COVID-19 hospitalizations

Health care experts explain why fight against omicron is a 'numbers game' as hospitalizations soar

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