BIDDEFORD — The AgeWise Maine Initiative and USAging in Washington, D.C. have been awarded the 2024 Immunization Neighborhood Champion Award by the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit for their work through the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative.
The AgeWise Maine Initiative is a collaboration of Maine’s five Area Agencies on Aging in partnership with Northern Light Health. Launched in 2023 and powered by USAging grant funding, AgeWise Maine offers vaccine clinics in communities across Maine with the goal of ensuring that thousands of residents get immunized to stay healthy and focused on doing the things they love.
With its contract extended for a second vaccination season, the AgeWise Maine Initiative will offer statewide vaccination clinics again beginning in the fall.
COVID cases in Maine have been on the rise since July, with an uptick in deaths and hospitalizations mirroring a national trend in increased high-risk cases. The Maine CDC is reminding Mainers that it’s important to stay up to date with flu and COVID vaccinations to keep themselves and their families healthy.
The CDC recommends getting the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 and flu vaccinations to protect yourself and your community. Both vaccinations are likely to be available and offered at AgeWise Maine clinics and other locations starting in September. It is safe to receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same visit.
“COVID rates are on the rise again, so this award announcement comes at the perfect time to revisit conversations about staying up-to-date on immunizations and working to keep each other healthy,” said Carly Williams, director, AgeWise Maine. “It’s a pertinent reminder that the need is still there, the resources are available, and of just how important it is that we’re able to offer flu and COVID vaccine clinics for a second vaccination season this fall.”
The NAIIS Immunization Excellence Awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations towards improved vaccination rates within their communities during the past year.
Since May 2023, AgeWise Maine and other ADVC partners have administered more than 378,000 COVID-19 and flu vaccines nationwide. Approximately 11 percent were given to people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time. Additionally, ADVC partners have administered 112,000 RSV, shingles, pneumococcal and other vaccines.
“It’s an incredible honor for USAging’s ADVC to be recognized with this award by the NAIIS,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “It’s a testament to the power of this collaborative and the critical role that Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, and community-based organizations play in promoting life-saving vaccinations which are a centerpiece of health and healthy aging for all of us.”
The ADVC also works with more than 20 national partners with expertise in areas such as autism, LBGTQ+ issues and ethnically diverse older adults to best serve people with different or unique needs.
USAging’s ADVC is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through USAging as part of a financial assistance award to USAging totaling $74,999,835 with 100-percent funding by ACL/HHS.
