Posted: April 7, 2021

To the Thomas College Community,

The state of Maine recently announced that beginning today, April 7, 2021, all Maine people age sixteen (16) and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Thomas College encourages all our students, faculty, and staff to obtain their free COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.  Our goal is to have all members of the Thomas College community arrive to campus for the fall semester fully vaccinated (except those that qualify for legal, health, or religious exemptions).

As a community that cares deeply about one other, we know how important it is that as many community members as possible obtain their vaccination as quickly as possible.  When we vaccinate, we can slow the spread of the virus that has upended our lives for over a year.  When you obtain your vaccine, you are not only protecting yourself, but you are also contributing to the health and safety of our entire Thomas College community, our larger central Maine community, and the families and hometowns to which you may soon be returning. 

Below are some resources to schedule your vaccine appointment:

• COVID-19 vaccination locations throughout Maine can be found here. The list includes both health care centers and pharmacies (Walmart, Walgreens, Hannaford, etc.)
• You can preregister for a vaccine at a public clinic here

Please note the following when scheduling your vaccine appointment:

• Different locations and pharmacies offer different vaccines.
• A two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) will require a second dose at the same location as the first.  These occur twenty-one (21) days after your first dose for Pfizer and twenty-eight (28) days after the first dose for Moderna.  The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose.
• Due to availability, please note that you may or may not get the same vaccine specified at the time of registration.

Students, you will want to consider your travel plans for the end of the semester when scheduling your first and second shots.  Remember:  You will need to obtain your second shot at the same location as the first.  If you cannot schedule your appointment in Maine, please seek out opportunities in your home communities.

We will be providing more vaccine information in the coming days and weeks.  Please refer to our online FAQ for additional information and updates.

I urge you to take advantage of the changes to eligibility and schedule your vaccine appointment as soon as possible.  Our close-knit community has come so far and endured so much over the last 13 months.  If we all continue to do our part to stop the spread, we will end this year and begin the fall semester together as a much stronger and healthier community.

With deep respect, 

 
Laurie G. Lachance, President 

Laurie G. Lachance
President
180 W River Rd, Waterville, ME 04901
wwwold.thomas.edu

For the most recent updates on Thomas College’s response to the coronavirus, please visit our COVID-19 web page.  Our COVID-19 Dashboard is updated regularly with the latest testing data.  If you have questions related to COVID-19, please do not hesitate to email us at covid19@thomas.edu.