New data shows wide range of school vaccination rates in Maine COVID-19

Public schools in Portland and several other districts in coastal Maine communities have high vaccination rates among eligible students, according to a new dashboard of student COVID-19 vaccination rates by school district released by the state on Tuesday. .

But many other districts in Maine have moderate or low vaccination rates among students, with a handful showing vaccination rates below 25%.

The dashboard, released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Department of Education, provides an estimate of student immunization rates for youth ages 12 to 18 using data from the code postal mail and the number of young people who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as reported to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It will be updated approximately every two weeks.

“This data will provide school leaders with information to help them make the best decisions for their communities and to help parents and students better understand vaccination rates in their areas,” said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, in a press release. “Coupled with our work to help schools deliver immunization clinics and promote the benefits of these safe and effective vaccines, we can curb the spread of COVID-19 by increasing immunization rates in schools in Maine. “

The dashboard shows several school districts with student vaccination rates above 75%, including the state’s largest public schools, Portland Public Schools, where the vaccination rate of eligible students is estimated to be between 85 and 89 %.

Only four school districts have pupil vaccination rates below 25%. They are: Regional School Unit 89 in Stacyville, where the vaccination rate is between 20 and 24 percent; Cutler Public Schools, 15 to 19 percent; School Administrative District 76 on Swans Island, 15 to 19 percent; and public schools in Lisbon, 20 to 24 percent.

This story will be updated.

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