The following is a transcript of a radio address presented by Governor Janet Mills. 

Earlier this week, I was pleased to announce that the State of Maine has achieved another vaccination milestone: 80 percent of adults in Maine have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That’s everybody over the age of 18.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80.2 percent of adults aged 18 and older in Maine have received a COVID-19 vaccination. We are one of only six states in the nation so far to reach this milestone.

Maine is also the third best in the nation in the percentage of people who are fully vaccinated, with more than 64 percent – including children under 12 who are not even yet eligible for a vaccine – fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

That’s third best in the nation, more than 64 percent of our entire population, fully vaccinated.

Maine also continues to make progress in vaccinating younger people, with more than 50 percent of young people ages 12 to 19 fully vaccinated.

I applaud Maine people for their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get their shot. But we’re not letting down our guard, we have not quit yet, people are still getting sick and there are many people who still haven’t gotten vaccinated.

We know that vaccinations are the best tool to protect the health of all Maine people, including children who aren’t yet eligible for the vaccine. Let’s not put them at risk. That’s unfair. It’s the best tool to protect them, and your family and your friends, and your coworkers from COVID-19 and from the more contagious and the deadly Delta variant that is spreading across Maine and across the nation right now. 

It is just crucial that we continue to make progress and keep fighting back against this pandemic. We can do it.

If you haven’t had your shot, please, talk to your doctor if you feel uncomfortable about it, about getting vaccinated and how it can protect your health and potentially save your life. If you know anybody who is not yet vaccinated, encourage them to get vaccinated.

It’s simple, it’s accessible, it doesn’t cost anything, it’s available in every community.

All three of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines have proven extremely effective. They are safe and they save lives.

COVID-19 vaccines are available at no charge at sites across the state. For information on getting a vaccine, please visit Maine.gov/covid19/vaccines or call the Community Vaccination Line at 1-888-445-4111.

Please, get your shot today. It’s critical.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.