County Partnerships Bring Vaccine Transfer, Clinic Assistance
Westminster (March 17, 2021) - The Carroll County Health Department (CCHD) is pleased to announce that LifeBridge Health, parent company to Carroll Hospital, provided 4,680 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine (2,340 each for first doses and second doses) to CCHD for use in their vaccination clinics. This additional vaccine will allow the Health Department to offer vaccination appointments to individuals in Phases 1A and 1B including every resident 75+ and to open vaccination appointments to residents 65-74. Carroll County Government staff are assisting with registration and vaccination clinics, making vaccination a multi-agency effort.
“We are very fortunate to have a great relationship with Carroll Hospital and our county government. We all share the same goal of vaccinating people at highest risk as quickly as possible,” said Ed Singer, Health Officer for Carroll County. “Our partners share vaccine, staff, and many other resources to help us reach different at-risk and underserved populations, such as health care workers and first responders, teachers, the homeless, and people at the detention center. We are also asking our community partners to help us reach seniors who are not connected to services, and minorities who are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”
“LifeBridge Health is proud to partner with the Carroll County Health Department to ensure we can reach our most vulnerable populations as soon as possible. It is vital that those who are eligible for the vaccine have access to receive it. We’re all in this together for the health of our community,” said Leslie Simmons, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of LifeBridge Health.
Over the next three weeks, the Health Department is scheduling clinics in community senior centers or schools to reach county residents in Phase 1B who are not yet vaccinated. County residents 75+ and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities should call the Health Department’s call center at 410-876-4848 to request an appointment. Family members and friends are also welcome to assist others with the registration process.
As spaces permit, additional appointment slots in each clinic will open to residents 65+. When most residents in 1B are vaccinated or registered to be vaccinated, more space will be available for people 65+. County residents who are 65+ who have not yet completed the Health Department’s interest form should do so here: https://cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19-interest-forms/. The Health Department will contact everyone on the interest list with information about registering for upcoming vaccination clinics.
Essential workers identified in Phase 1C, and people in other groups, can also complete an interest form to be contacted at a later time. The State of Maryland is open to all people in Phase 1C. They can visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine#locator or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX for information on vaccination options at pharmacies, larger clinics, and mass vaccination sites. Several pharmacies in Carroll County are now offering the vaccine.
The community partners are collaborating in other ways to serve county residents. LifeBridge Health, CCHD, and Carroll County Government are also working together to reach homebound and underserved residents with a mobile team. Homebound clients, identified by the Carroll County Department of Citizens Services, Department of Social Services, and CCHD’s Adult Evaluation and Referral Services, are contacted by health department staff, who also schedules the LifeBridge Health mobile team to vaccinate those individuals in their homes. The CCHD also conducted a joint clinic with LifeBridge Health for a senior housing facility where many residents had mobility problems. Together, the team vaccinated 72 vulnerable senior residents. CCHD and Carroll County Government worked together to vaccinate homeless shelter guests and staff. Additional joint ventures are planned to continue to reach vulnerable and difficult to reach populations.
“These are more examples of how Carroll County partnerships between medical systems, public health and local government excel at coordination,” said Commissioner President Ed Rothstein. “Working together cooperatively is how we protect and provide the best for our community.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maggie Kunz, Health Planner,
Carroll County Health Department,
410-876-4848 or
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