COVID-19 & Flu Prevention

We are here to help YOU and our community stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness has the following programs to support the community during the pandemic.

Support Program	Description	Communities Served
Color Paper Project	Food deliveries, masks, hand sanitizer, water deliveries	Elders in Sipayik and Indian Township
Isolation and Quarantine Support	Support to safely make it through quarantine and isolation. Can include food deliveries and safety supplies.	Wabanaki people going through quarantine or isolation.
Love and Literacy	Promote bonding and connections in our communities with literacy and learning	Wabanaki youth, people in recovery, community members in active service, and students in college and vocational training programs
Virtual Language Lessons	Weekly Virtual Passamaquoddy-Maliseet language classes.	Open to the public

For more information on these programs, please contact Selena Neptune-Bear at (207) 991-8532 or email covidcare@wabanakipublichealth.org.

Color Paper Project

COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID-19 is a serious disease affecting the Indigenous community in the state of Maine. To see the latest updates on the spread of COVID-19 in your area, please visit: COVID-19: Maine Data.

COVID-19 VACCINATION

The COVID-19 Vaccine is an important part of protecting the community. We vaccinate to protect those we love.

Selena Neptune-Bear

COVID-19 Communications Coordinator, Wabanaki Public Health

As a young Penobscot woman I have a responsibility to protect my community and preserve my culture. Getting this vaccine was one way for me to protect those around me, especially our elders who carry our most precious knowledge.

Getting A Vaccine

Please call your community center listed below for more information and to see if you are eligible.

Community	Health Center	Call for more info
Pleasant Point/Sipayik	Sipayik Tribal Health Center	207-853-0644
Indian Township	Passamaquoddy Health Center	207-796-2321
Penobscot	Penobscot Nation Health Department	207-817-2400
Micmac	Micmac Family Health Clinic	207-764-7219
Maliseet	Maliseet Health Department	207-532-2240

COVID-19 VACCINE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is COVID-19?

A new coronavirus that had not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the other common coronavirus that can cause mild illness, like the common cold.

How does COVID-19 spread?

The virus that causes COVID-19 most commonly spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet, or 2 arm lengths). It spreads through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes. These particles can be inhaled into the nose, mouth, airways, and lungs and cause infection. This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

How can I protect myself and my community?

Wear a mask, stay six feet apart from others, avoid crowds, cover your coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect surfaces, wash your hands often, and monitor your own health for symptoms.

Who is at increased risk of severe symptoms?

People at increased risk include:

Older adults
People of all ages with certain underlying medical conditions

Pregnant people are also at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.

Can the COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No, none of the approved vaccinations contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Do I need to continue wearing a mask and practicing social distancing after I have received the vaccine?

Yes. Not enough information is currently available to say if or when the CDC will stop recommending that people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

If I already had COVID-19, do I need the vaccine?

Yes, Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, a vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection.

Will the COVID-19 vaccine protect me from getting sick?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccination works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and this protects you from getting sick with COVID-19.

Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?

No, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.