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For immediate release: Tuesday January 26, 2021
Montgomery County now has residents 75 and older vaccinated and will continue to provide appointment links with other members of Priority Group 1B as vaccine supply permits. A nationwide shortage of COVID-19 vaccine, and the limited amount of doses Montgomery County and the state receive each week, will translate into a decrease in the number of pre-registered residents who will get an appointment immediately. Over 50,000 residents aged 75 and over have pre-registered to date and the county receives an average of 6,000 doses per week. The county, along with other large state jurisdictions, may not go through the priority group phases as quickly as other parts of Maryland. because demand and limited supply of vaccines.
To focus the limited vaccine supply on the most vulnerable, county health officials are limiting access to immunizations to everyone except those who go through the formal pre-registration process. The Montgomery County government is aware that dating links have been forwarded and the state’s appointment system does not have a filter to prevent a link from being shared. Sharing the links has confused residents and negatively impacted the vaccine distribution process. The county is working with state officials to change the system to prevent this. Residents should not pass the meeting link on to others.
When eligible and depending on vaccine supply, residents who have pre-registered will receive a direct link from [email protected] to schedule an appointment. People who have not received a link directly from the county and who show up at a county-run vaccination clinic will not be served unless they are in the priority group 1A or 75 and over. Do not forward an appointment link if you receive it.
People at Priority Group 1B levels, including teachers, educators, essential workers and people with developmental disabilities, will be invited to pre-register later this week. People in priority group 1C, level 1 (65-74 years old) will also be invited to pre-register later this week.
“We understand that this vaccine is the long-awaited beacon of hope,” County Director Marc Elrich said. “Governor Hogan and I had a positive conversation yesterday about coordinating our efforts more effectively. 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 the appointment and distribution system is efficient – please do not forward links and do not use forwarded links. “
While Montgomery County is now in Phase 1B, Level 1, immunizing people aged 75 and over, staff in the county’s health and social services department continue to immunize residents in Phase 1A, which includes agents from frontline health.
“We are working diligently to ensure that our populations that have been hit hardest by COVID-19, both in terms of cases and deaths, including home zip code, race, ethnicity and age, are all taken into account in the vaccine distribution process, ”the county said. Health worker Dr Travis Gayles.
County health officials continue to work closely with the state regarding the limited vaccine supply and high demand. The county is also working with other health care partners, including local hospitals and health care systems, to increase the number of vaccines available. The long-term goal, which depends on the production and distribution of vaccines, is for the public to have the opportunity to receive the vaccination in the months to come.
Some private providers also offer the COVID-19 vaccine. These hospitals and pharmacies are independent of the vaccination facilities managed by the county.
Visit the county’s COVID19 vaccine page for a more detailed description of priority groups. Pre-registration for the first priority groups is also available on the vaccines website.
Residents can also register on the Vaccines website for weekly vaccine updates. Emails and text messages will be a way to inform the community about the county’s progress in reaching priority groups.
For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD. Residents can also sign up to receive SMS or email updates on COVID-19 vaccinations.
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Release ID: 21-053
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6507
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