New Vaccine Dates

With the federal government's recent purchase of additional vaccine doses, we are anticipating an increase in shipments soon to the State and subsequently to our County. While the Biden Administration expects that by the end of May, there will be enough vaccine supply available for all adults in this country, the exact timing of Americans getting vaccinated is contingent on the logistical details. To assist with local efforts, the federal government will more than double the number of federally-run mass vaccination centers to ensure the hardest-hit communities are reached.

The County Council and County Executive have articulated for months how critical mass vaccination sites will be to a successful vaccine rollout, especially the importance of a site designated specifically for Maryland’s largest jurisdiction, Montgomery County. The State just announced a County-proposed mass vaccination site, Montgomery College Germantown, and now preparations are underway with Holy Cross Health to transition hundreds of vaccines per day to this location by early April. This will eliminate the need to use the Richard Montgomery and Quince Orchard High School sites in the near-term, and with significant Maryland Department of Health support moving forward, this site will have the capacity to administer up to 3,000 doses per day if doses are provided by the State. For those who have asked about whether they will eventually be able to get vaccinated through their primary care doctor, the State announced a program for primary care practices to administer vaccines directly to eligible patients so we hope this program will be expanded soon to address the current bottlenecks in the system. 

In terms of priority groups and the County's progress to date, MCPS teachers and staff have now all been provided the opportunity to be vaccinated. Looking ahead, the State ordered that the County priority groups must align with the State framework and so the county’s website will be updated shortly to reflect these changes. Most important, the Governor announced the dates when the next priority group tiers would open. You can find the details in this link or below in the graphic. 

Based on the State's framework, every adult in Maryland will be eligible for the vaccine on April 27th and at that time, there will be additional clarity on which health care providers will be offering the vaccine in addition to mass vaccination sites and pharmacies. Please keep in mind that when a group becomes eligible, that does not mean there will be immediate access to an appointment as there is still more demand than supply. For those currently eligible for a vaccine, the State site to locate vaccine providers is here and please be sure you have pre-registered with the County as the County is the backstop for those who aren't able to utilize the State system. 

Reopening

The Council recently passed a Board of Health Regulation to open up many activities and facilities. Some noteworthy changes include:

• Increasing capacity for religious facilities to 50%.
• Permitting food courts in malls to operate with the same limited capacity as other food service facilities.
• On March 26th:
  • The capacity limits for indoor dining at food service facilities, fitness centers, bowling alleys, escape rooms, museums and art galleries, personal services facilities, pools, retail establishments, and recreation centers increases from 25% to 50%.
  • Arts and entertainment facilities are allowed to open at 25% capacity, provided they do not sell or permit food for consumption in the facility.
• In general, youth sports are permitted with certain restrictions. For more information, please see this County site.

As of today, roughly 25% of Montgomery County residents have received their first dose of the vaccine and 13.7% have gotten their second dose. As vaccinations dramatically increase over the next few months, additional decisions will be made as the County steadily moves towards reopening and back to more normal pre-pandemic activities.

Have Additional Questions?

• Please check the State's frequently asked questions.
  • You can also call 211 or submit a question to the State using this website.
  • CVS and Walgreens continue to conduct vaccination clinics at Maryland nursing homes and assisted living facilities. If you have a question about a specific facility, you can ask the Maryland Department of Health.
• If you have a question for the County, you can call the County COVID-19 helpline at 240-777-1755.
  • Second Dose: If you are having trouble getting your appointment for your second dose, please don't hesitate to use this County email for assistance. 
  • Homebound Residents: The executive branch launched a pilot program a few weeks ago to provide in-home vaccinations and the team is making steady progress, but there is a long list of residents so it will likely take some time.  
  • Need Help Pre-Registering With the County? A phone line has been established for individuals who do not have access to the internet or who need help preregistering for a vaccination. Residents can call 240-777-2982 for assistance.

Join Us Next Month

On Friday April 9th at 11:30 AM, please join us to share your questions and thoughts. Click this image to register for our conversation on Zoom.