Former state epidemiologist Sears is guest in Jan. 14 Belgrade Zoom discussion

BELGRADE — Former Maine state epidemiologist Stephen Sears will be the guest for an online converation sponsored by the Belgrade Communications Committee.
The presentation, which is free and open to the public, is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, on Zoom at bit.ly/3hnom48. ecause the town’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 bit.ly/3hsYbJu.
Sears, a Belgrade resident, will discuss the latest information regarding the coronavirus, vaccines and what to expect in the coming months. Questoins will be accepted via Zoom’s chat feature and on the Facebook page. The discussion will be guided by Jay Bradshaw, a former paramedic and retired executive director of Maine Emergency Medical Services. Bradshaw, a Belgrade resident, is also executive director for the Maine Ambulance Association.
The most recent Maine CDC data reports 30 cases of COVID-19 among Belgrade residents 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.
Sears will talk about the vaccine’s development and the challenges of inoculating enough people to reach 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. He was state of Maine epidemiologist from 2009 to 2014, during which he confronted the H1N1 epidemic and the challenge of broad vaccination. He was also MaineGeneral Health’s chief medical officer from 1988 to 2007.
An online conversation with Regional School Unit 18 Superintendent Carl Gartley at the beginning of the school year, also sponsored by the communications committee, 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.