Rotary raises funds to help vaccinate rural first responders against COVID-19

OLD TOWN, Maine — As part of the Maine EMS COVID-19 vaccination plan, fire departments throughout Maine have been tasked with providing vaccinations to the larger community.

In order to do so, many needed the necessary equipment, including designated refrigeration units and iPads, but were not provided any funding to acquire this equipment.

This is where Rotary Clubs across Maine and New Brunswick have once again stepped up to the challenge, by collectively donating up to $25,000 toward purchasing equipment for the vaccination distribution effort.

Keri Denis, Old Town Rotary Club president, recently presented a check to Rob McGraw, Fire/EMS Chief of the East Millinocket Fire Department, so they are able to purchase an iPad, needed to scan barcodes on the backs of driver’s licenses, which will auto-populate all of the demographic information into a vaccine tracking system.  

The East Millinocket Fire Department was tasked with vaccinating rural first responders, allowing the rural first responders to be vaccinated without compromising the emergency response coverage they provide to their communities.