Among the vaccinated in Maine, a growing anger at those who resist

As COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations rise across the U.S., some vaccinated Mainers are expressing frustration, anger and ambivalence toward those who remain unvaccinated for political or other reasons not grounded in science.

“Most of the people that are vaccinated or want to be, at this point, are vaccinated,” noted Christopher English, 42, who lives near Lewiston and said he had been inoculated. “If you aren’t (vaccinated), you don’t want to be, so I am a little cynical towards those people. If you don’t want (the vaccine), don’t get it, but you will get sick.”

“I’ve been over the pandemic for a year and a half. We‘re (all) going to get it no matter what and we are all probably going to die from it, so why would I get vaccinated?” said Dale Garland, 32, of Lewiston.

“I say hell no to vaccine mandates,” said Jacob Conrad, 29, also of Lewiston.

“I hate the masks, can we please just get rid of them? I’m just not going to wear a mask. I’m not vaccinated and I don’t care because I think COVID has been out there for long enough,” said Aleck Burnell, 23, of Lewiston.

“Vaccines should not be mandated,” Muhitira said. “I come from countries of dictatorships and mandates, so I feel people should be educated and make their own choices. I don’t feel that it should be a mandatory thing.”