Just Confirmed: Dr. Fauci, General Milley & SEAC Feb 4 Town Hall! Register NOW!

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Exciting new speakers just added! Join Blue Star Families and the American Red Cross for a one-hour virtual town hall designed exclusively for the military and veteran communities!   Register Here   Featuring:       Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health     *NEW* Special Messages from: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark A. Milley & Mrs. Hollyanne Milley Senior Englisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón 'CZ' Colón-López & Janet Colón Moderated Q&A with:     Lieutenant General Ronald Place, USA Director, Defense Health Agency   Richard Stone, M.D.  Acting Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration   Register to reserve your spot!   Register Here

© 2021 Blue Star Families This email was sent by: Blue Star Families P.O. Box 230637, Encinitas, CA, 92023 US

Montgomery County Begins Vaccinating Residents 75 and Older

Montgomery County is now vaccinating residents 75 and older and will continue providing appointment links to others in Priority Group 1B as vaccine supply allows. A national COVID-19 vaccine shortage, and the limited amount of doses Montgomery County and the State receive weekly, will result in fewer residents who are preregistered getting an appointment immediately. More than 50,000 residents 75 years of age and older have preregistered so far, and the County receives an average of 6,000 doses weekly. The County, as well as other large jurisdictions in the State, may not move as quickly through the priority group phases as other parts of Maryland because of the demand and limited vaccine supply.

To focus the limited vaccine supply on the most vulnerable individuals, County health officials are restricting access to vaccinations to all but those people who follow the official preregistration process. The Montgomery County Government is aware that appointment links have been forwarded and the State appointment system does not have a filter to prevent sharing a link. The sharing of links has created confusion for residents and is negatively impacting the vaccine distribution process. The County is working with State officials to modify the system to prevent this. Residents should not forward the appointment link to others.

When eligible, and based on the vaccine supply, residents who have preregistered will receive a direct link from c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov to make an appointment. People who have not received a link directly from the County and show up to a County-run vaccine clinic will not be served unless they are in Priority Group 1A or 75 and older. Do not forward an appointment link if you receive it.

Those in tiers within Priority Group 1B, including teachers, childcare workers, essential workers, and individuals with developmental disabilities, will be invited to preregister later this week. People in Priority Group 1C, Tier 1 (65-74 years old) will also be invited to preregister later this week.

“We understand that this vaccine is the long-awaited ray of hope,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Governor Hogan and I had a positive conversation yesterday about more effectively coordinating our efforts. We both know we need an increase in supply, which neither of us can control, but we are ready to do more when additional supplies arrive. Until then, please help us make sure that the appointment and distribution system is efficient – please do not forward links and please do not use forwarded links."

While Montgomery County is now in Phase 1B, tier 1, vaccinating those 75 years and older, County Department of Health and Human Services staff continue to vaccinate residents in Phase 1A, which includes frontline health care workers.

“We are working diligently to ensure our populations who have been hit hardest by COVID-19, both in terms of cases and fatalities, including home zip code, race, ethnicity and age, are all factored into the vaccine distribution process,” said County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles.

County health officials continue to work closely with the State regarding the limited vaccine supply and the great demand. The County is also working with other health care partners, including local hospital and health care systems, to expand the number of vaccinations available. The long-term goal, dependent on vaccine production and distribution is for the public to have the opportunity to receive the vaccination sometime in the coming months.

Some private providers are offering the COVID-19 vaccine as well. Those hospitals and pharmacies are independent of the County-run vaccine facilities.

Visit the County’s COVID19 vaccine page for a more detailed description of priority groups. Preregistration for the early priority groups is also available on the vaccine website.

Residents can also sign up on the vaccine website for weekly vaccine updates. Emails and text messages will be one way to update the community on the County’s progress in reaching the priority groups.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD. Residents can also sign up to receive text or email updates about COVID-19 vaccinations.

Jan. 27 - Online Mental Health and Community Wellness Conversation (part of an ongoing series)

Montgomery County to Host Jan. 27 Online Mental Health and Community Wellness Conversation

Focused on Stress Management and Well-Being through Self-Care. 

Residents are invited to join a free online event on Wednesday, Jan. 27 for a conversation focused on improving stress management skills and well-being through self-care. The session is part of a series, Wellness Community Events: Healing and Holding On - One Conversation at a Time for the Community, focused on mental health and wellness issues affecting the community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The conversation will be held on Wednesday, January 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Self-care is vital for our overall well-being. This workshop will focus on providing the knowledge and skills to help participants develop a self-care plan. Participants will learn how self-care activities can help them cope with stress and improve their mental, emotional, and physical health.

Participants will learn:

• Definitions of stress, burnout and self-care;
• The impact self-care can have on your overall wellbeing;
• Proven self-care strategies; and
• How to develop your own self-care plan.

The conversation will be led by EveryMind, an organization that empowers individuals to reach optimal mental wellness. For sixty years, their highly trained, caring, professional staff has provided community education, advocacy and direct services to empower children, teens, families, older adults and the entire community to reach optimal mental wellness. They strive to find a way to move past the stigma that gets in the way of wholeness and wellness.

The virtual meetings are held every other Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The events are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Join the conversation on Teams Live at http://bit.ly/wellness-community-4 or view it live on County Cable Montgomery and the County’s Facebook page.

For more information, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and click on mental health resources or email hhsmail@montgomerycountymd.gov. For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD

County Vaccine Updates

To keep up to date with all Montgomery County’s Covid vaccine information, visit our official website.  

It contains a lot of information about the priorities for vaccination and where we are in distribution (we are almost through group 1A and will be moving on to 1B). 

 You can also sign up for instant notifications from Montgomery County governnment (either email or text) online, click here.

                

Virtual Community Conversations with Assisting Hands Home Care

Assisting Hands Home Care believes in the power of community. They want to help everyone age well in Montgomery County. Since March of 2020 they have turned their events virtual and use the zoom platform to educate and connect citizens on all subjects relating to aging well. They now offer 4 FREE programs each month, record them and offer them FREE:

What's Your Plan? - an informal chat with an expert in the field of aging with Steve Lorberbaum

• Friday, February 12 at 9:30 a.m. 
• Odile Brunetto, Chief Aging and Disability Services
• Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services 

Yoga for Self Care - in partnership with Caring Matters - grief support with Marie Daly

Book Chat - an informal chat with an author about a recently published book on the subject of aging well moderated by Patricia Dubroof

Death Cafe - in partnership with Pump House Village of Rockville, an international project to talk openly about death and dying facilitated by Patricia Dubroof 

Please call to them to register: 301-362-2580 

or visit their website to learn more: www.assistinghands.com/potomac

Covid-19 Vaccine Update

Governor Hogan announced 1/14/2021 that Maryland will be moving to Phase 1B on Monday, January 18,

2021. Phase 1B includes people age 75 or older.

We have not yet received enough vaccine from the Maryland Department of Health to finish those in Priority Group 1A. We will begin vaccinating those in Priority Group 1B as soon as we can, while continuing to vaccinate those in Priority Group 1A.  

You must preregister before being able to make an appointment.

If you are age 75 or older AND a Montgomery County resident:
Preregister for an appointment (disponible en español)
As we get more vaccine from the Maryland Department of Health, we will contact you to schedule your appointment.

Click here to read Montgomery County's complete Covid-19 Vaccine availability and how to register.

Montgomery County Seeks Feedback on Residents’ Demand for Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine

Montgomery County has launched an online survey to hear from residents and get an informed

understanding of how residents feel about taking the COVID-19 vaccine. The survey is not scientific but will help to identify any possible concerns residents may have about the vaccine. With a goal of vaccinating 75 to 80 percent of the community, County employees will use the feedback to address questions and to better reach communities hit hardest by COVID-19 and who have historically been apprehensive about trusting vaccines or medical research. The County plans to incorporate the feedback from the survey into its robust outreach plan and communications efforts to educate the public on the importance of taking the vaccine.

The survey is open from Jan. 14 through Feb. 4, 2021 and is on the County’s COVID-19 vaccine website. The survey is anonymous and is available in the top seven spoken languages in the county. It is also available on the County’s Facebook page and Twitter feed. With 12 multiple choice questions, the survey takes approximately five minutes to complete. In addition to the survey being available online, the survey will also be offered to residents at several of the County’s COVID-19 testing sites.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD. Residents can also sign up to receive text or email updates about COVID-19 vaccinations.

Free workshop for caregivers - "Organizational Tools & Tips for Caregivers" on Tuesday, January 19 at 2 PM

The Maryland Commission on Caregiving is hosting a webinar with My Office Professionals, The Johns

Hopkins Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, Called to Care - A program of John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Hopkins ElderPlus on "Organizational Tools & Tips for Caregivers" on Tuesday, January 19 at 2 PM. Click here to view flyer for registration details and please share with your networks.

Theresa Robertson, Creator and Owner of My Office Professionals and member of the Maryland Commission on Caregiving will provide tremendous insights and tips for anyone interested in being more organized in the upcoming year but especially if you are a family/informal Caregiver.

The session is free but advance registration is required:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqce2opjIuGN15lhl0MRlftmSmhnBmpnau

Covid-19 and much more Updates

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19 for Latest COVID-19 Updates January 14, 2021 |  Contact County Executive Marc Elrich A Message from County Executive Marc Elrich Information about vaccine availability and distribution in Montgomery County is rapidly changing. County Executive Marc Elrich this week addresses how the County is administering all the vaccines as they are received. The County relies on the State for the doses and is awaiting an increased supply.   Read More County Seeks Feedback on Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine Montgomery County has launched an online survey to get an informed understanding of how residents feel about taking the COVID-19 vaccine.   Read More   County Administering COVID-19 Vaccines at One of the Highest Rates in the State—More Doses Needed Montgomery County is has taken swift steps to administer the vaccines it has received—proceeding at one of the highest rates of vaccine administration in Maryland.   Read More Montgomery County will host its annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, but due to the COVID-19 health crisis, will do it in a virtual program at 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18.   Read More COVID-19 Information Portal Has Statistics on How the Virus Has Impacted the County, Including Infections by Zip Codes COVID-19 Deaths by Zip Code, Montgomery County, MD Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics are regularly updated to reflect the most recent reports during the health crisis.   Read More Where to Get Tested for COVID-19 There are numerous ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Montgomery County. The County operates dozens of clinics most weeks and rotates the locations to make testing easily accessible for residents in all parts of the County. In addition, there are many privately operated testing programs.   Read More Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Releases List of Top 10 Selling Beer, Wine and Spirits for 2020 Corona Extra is the top-selling beer in Montgomery County, Barefoot wines are the leading wine sellers and Tito’s Handmade Vodka is the most popular spirit. Those products headed their respective lists of the top-selling products according to 2020 sales results released by Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS).   Read More County Holiday Task Force Results in 262 DUI Arrests; No DUI-Related Fatal Collisions Occurred During Eight-Week Period An eight-week special task force formed to prevent serious and fatal traffic collisions in Montgomery County during the holiday season resulted in 262 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. During the period of the task force, which began Nov. 18 and was composed of specially assigned Montgomery County Police, along with respective City and State police agency partners, there were no DUI-related fatal collisions in the County.   Read More Free Outdoor Public Wi-Fi Available Near 10 County Libraries and Silver Spring Civic Building Montgomery County has leveraged federal COVID-19 funding to install outdoor public Wi-Fi at 10 Public Library (MCPL) locations. The free service is available 24 hours at day at the MCPL branches at Aspen Hill, Davis (North Bethesda), Gaithersburg, Germantown, Maggie Nightingale (Poolesville),  Marilyn Praisner (Burtonsville), Rockville Memorial, Twinbrook, Wheaton and White Oak branches. The program also will provide free Wi-Fi in front of the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza. Read More Online Process to Request Food Assistance Resources Available Montgomery County residents looking for information on food assistance resources can now request help by completing an online form. Available in seven languages (Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese), the form is reviewed by a trained resource specialist. Residents receive a return phone call within one business day.   Read More County’s MLK Day of Service Event Moves to Virtual Platform, Expands to a Week Every January for more than a decade, the Montgomery County Volunteer Center has brought together thousands of area residents for an afternoon of activities featured as part of its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day of Service. This year, the event will go virtual and will be expanded to a week, Jan. 16-24, with a variety of home-based and safely distanced service opportunities available online at http://bit.ly/MoCoMLKDay.    Read More County Public Libraries Holds Virtual Comic Convention Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will host its fifth free comic convention, MoComCon, on Saturday, Jan. 16. Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, MoComCon 2021 will be a full-day, online event for all ages. The event will celebrate all things comics, graphic novels and fandoms.   Read More Input Sought for County Study to Improve Transportation Navigation and Safety for People with Vision Loss and Disabilities The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is conducting a public survey to get input from those who have vision disabilities or are advocates, caregivers or related professionals supporting people who move around the County with reduced vision. Anyone who experiences challenges navigating the built network or works with people with vision or mobility impairments is encouraged to complete a survey that MCDOT has made available through the end of January.   Read More Free Online Workshops and One-on-One Sessions for Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs Offered in January Montgomery County Public Libraries is offering free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers. All workshops are free and offered live via video conference.   Read More County Animal Services and Adoption Center to Offer Weekly Free Rabies Clinics for Dogs, Cats and Ferrets Montgomery County’s Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) will begin hosting free appointment-based rabies clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets owned by County residents. The clinics will take place at the County’s animal shelter facility located at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood, on select Wednesdays beginning Jan. 20.   Read More South Germantown Bike Park Closes Due to Poor Trail Conditions  The South Germantown Bike Park, which is operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has been closed for the remainder of the winter due to adverse track conditions.       Read More For the latest updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

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