WESTBROOK – The city is awaiting approval from state officials to establish a COVID-19 vaccination network at westbrook Community Center, hoping to launch it next month.

“As soon as we’re told across the state, they’ll have data on when we can start,” said Andrew Turcotte, the city’s fitness officer and chimney boss. “It will possibly start more slowly until other people integrate, but I anticipate that within a few weeks after notification, we’ll be working. “

It is too early to know when citizens will be vaccinated, Turcotte said, and depends on the supply of vaccines.

The city’s Medical Emergency Service won its first vaccine circular on December 29 and will get the moment dose “in a week or two,” Turcotte said. About 150 other lifeguards in the city will get their first dose in a few weeks.

“Clearly, a lot depends on the chain of origin and it is difficult to know whether agencies that were tasked with vaccinating public protection workers are getting good enough doses,” Turcotte said.

The vaccine would be delivered internally, such as the COVID-19 review of the public protection building, but transitional recruitment would possibly be needed to meet demand, he said.

The vaccination team would also use other sites, such as network care facilities, if necessary, he said.

Meanwhile, the check site continues to fill in all available spaces and checks to more than a hundred people per day, he said. Check funding was approved until March 31.

Turcotte the importance of testing.

“Right now, about last week, we have 5% positive for every test,” Turcotte said. “Almost 40% of these positive cases are asymptomatic. “

According to the Cumberland County report of January 10, Westbrook has recorded about 791 cases since the start of the pandemic, along with neighboring South Portland with 815 cases.

Some network care services and senior homes have already won their first of the vaccines, adding Stroudwater Lodge and Stroudwater’s Avita on Landing Road.

“With the virus spreading as it is, I think it’s vital to get vaccinated,” Connie Levesque, a resident of Stroudwater Lodge, said in a press release from the facility. “I feel like we can help others get the vaccine. It’s a wonderful example for your family circle to know that you’re taking care of yourself. We have to do those things. “