First Round of COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in Montgomery County
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 23, 2020
The first round of COVID-19
vaccine doses, manufactured by Moderna, arrived in Montgomery County this
morning at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This initial
shipment will be earmarked for County health staff engaged in managing the pandemic
response.
The first group to receive the vaccine
in Montgomery County is the core team of public health clinicians who will
become responsible for vaccinating residents across the County once additional
vaccine arrives.
The shipment that arrived today
from the Maryland Department of Health is only a small fraction of the entire
supply expected to ultimately arrive in Montgomery County and across the United
States. This first, small round of vaccine is in addition to the supply that
the six hospitals across Montgomery County have or will receive directly from
the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). Once MDH receives vaccine from the
federal government, DHHS will learn more details about how much vaccine the
County will receive and when.
County Health Officer Dr.
Travis Gayles will be among the first recipients this afternoon as the lead on
the active response to the pandemic.
"I
think the vaccines are safe, and are a new tool to help alleviate the burden of
COVID-19 in our communities, particularly in those communities hit
disproportionately," said Dr. Gayles. "I
want to be candid and transparent in sharing my experience with the vaccine to
help address any concerns, questions, or anxiety around receiving it."
Montgomery County is following
the priority designations outlined by Governor Larry Hogan and that all
Maryland counties will follow:
- 1A: Frontline health
care workers, staff and residents of nursing homes, and first responders
- 1B: Essential workers
and residents over the age of 75
- 1C: Individuals over the age of 65
The process for identifying the
order by which all recipients within Priority Group 1A will be vaccinated will
be determined by the quantity of vaccine the County receives and when it
arrives.
The second priority group
includes people in critical, essential infrastructure roles as well as those
people at moderately higher risk of severe illness. The general public will
have the chance to be vaccinated when the initial priority groups have been fully
vaccinated. It is estimated that the general public will have the opportunity
to receive the vaccination sometime in the spring of 2021.
In addition to
County-operated vaccination clinics, when there is an adequate supply of vaccine, there will be additional places to get vaccinated, including
physician’s offices and other primary care providers.
Health care providers in the County should complete
this survey to let DHHS know
how many of their staff may need coverage.
Visit the County’s COVID-19 website for
frequently asked questions about vaccinations. The page will be continually
updated to reflect the latest information available on the ongoing effort to
slow and stop the spread of COVID-19.
