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Community Conversation with Dr. Stephen Sears

Former state epidemiologist to talk about COVID vaccines, what to expect next
community conversation
Event Date: 
Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Belgrade resident Dr. Stephen Sears, formerly Maine’s state epidemiologist, will talk with local citizens in an online conversation Jan. 14 about the latest information regarding the coronavirus, vaccines and what to expect in the coming months.

The program begins at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom at http://bit.ly/3hnom48. Questions for Dr. Sears will be accepted via Zoom’s chat feature and the Town’s Facebook page. The discussion will be guided by Jay Bradshaw, a fellow Belgrade resident, former paramedic and retired executive director of Maine Emergency Medical Services. Bradshaw serves as executive director for the Maine Ambulance Association.

The most recent Maine CDC data reports 30 cases of COVID-19 in Belgrade since March. The FDA has approved two vaccines; others are in various stages of development, research and trial studies. The World Health Organization has named vaccine hesitancy one of the top 10 threats to global health.

Dr. Sears will talk about the vaccine’s development and the challenges of inoculating enough people to obtain what’s referred to as “herd immunity.”

Sears was drawn out of retirement to serve as a clinical advisor to the Maine Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-19 response team. Sears served as the State of Maine epidemiologist from 2009-14, during which he confronted the H1N1 epidemic and the challenge of broad vaccination. Sears was MaineGeneral Health’s chief medical officer from 1988-2007.

Because the Town of Belgrade’s Zoom account can accommodate only 100 viewers at a time, the conversation will also be streamed live on Facebook at facebook.com/BelgradeMaine. A video of the discussion will be posted afterward at TownofBelgrade.com and on YouTube at http://bit.ly/3hsYbJu.

The community conversation is organized by the Town’s Communications Committee. An online conversation with RSU 18 Superintendent Carl Gartley at the beginning of the school year drew more than 100 viewers. Future conversations are planned to discuss items on the March 19 Town ballot and service on Town boards and committees.