#ENewsYouCanUse | APPLY TODAY: Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), COVID-19 Vaccine Update/Resources, Constituent Resources, Resources for Small Businesses

To view the County’s virtual video tribute, please visit the County's YouTube channel or click on the COVID Day of Remembrance graphic above.

Please note that the County’s current focus remains on ensuring that those individuals that fall within Phase 1a and Phase 1B are vaccinated.  I advise all residents to pre-register to receive the vaccine by visiting the following link:  https://bit.ly/PGCVaccineForm. 

Once residents are eligible to receive the vaccine, residents will be contacted by the Prince George's County Health Department.

While many of us desire to receive the vaccine, there are also those who remain hesitant and skeptical to their effectiveness. 

1. The vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson – do not contain any live virus. 
2. You cannot catch COVID-19 from getting the vaccine.
3. Your best protection against the virus is getting vaccinated. 

Know the truth about COVID-19 vaccines by visiting our COVID-19 Section towards the bottom of the page to review the full length Myth vs. Fact flyer and reviewing the latest edition of the COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin.

The Office of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin, which provides transparent updates on our County’s vaccine distribution process and includes the latest numbers on vaccine supply and the pre-registration list.

Highlights:

• The 8,400 first doses we received from the State last week were out the door and into the arms of residents by Monday of this week, so within a week of receiving them. We did provide 1,750 of those doses to our partners, Luminis Health and MedStar Southern Maryland, to help vaccinate County residents.
• The first doses we received this week will be out the door and into the arms of residents by next Monday, again within a week of receiving them.
• We can administer more than 2,000 vaccines per day through our County Health Department. Right now, we have only averaged 1,564 vaccines per day for the last ten days, due to a lack of supply of first doses.
• Our mobile vaccination units vaccinated 478 pre-registered seniors last week. This week, we returned to Cameron Grove Senior Facility and visited a domestic violence shelter, vaccinating 282 residents. Yesterday and today, we vaccinated homebound seniors.
• The Sports & Learning vaccination clinic will close from March 13-28 and reopen on March 29, due to scheduled maintenance at the facility.
• To maintain vaccination capacity, we will open two new sites, the Kentland Community Center on March 8 and the Cedar Heights Community Center on March 15. We hope to continue operating these sites even after Sports & Learning reopens.
• We have issued tens of thousands of appointments to individuals in Phases 1A and 1B on our pre-registration list through our new scheduling system. As a reminder, residents will now receive an appointment date, time and location from our Health Department, rather than a link to schedule an appointment.
• We received our first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. This new vaccine is both safe and effective (more information is below).

Vaccine Administration

Currently, the vaccination capacity at our County Health Department’s clinics, including mobile clinics, is more than 2,000 people per day. However, the number of vaccinations provided is dependent on the supply we receive from the State.

• The County Health Department received 4,800 first doses and 3,100 second doses this week, in addition to 1,400 doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine that only requires a single dose.
• We administered 7,963 vaccines through our Health Department last week, a record weekly total. As of yesterday, we have already exceeded that record total for this week, administering 9,002 vaccines from Sunday through Thursday.
• To date, the County has received 53,850 doses of vaccines, and has administered 46,304 of those doses (approximately 86%). This metric (percentage of vaccine administered) changes day to day as new vaccine shipments come in and the number of second dose vaccines waiting to be given are administered in the days ahead.
• Out of the vaccines we have not administered, 1,992 are first doses and 5,235 are second doses. We expect to utilize the remainder of our first dose supply by Monday, March 8, within a week of receiving that supply.
• We received the Johnson & Johnson shipment on March 2, but we first had to upload the information into our registration system to be able to properly record doses administered. That is now done, and we will begin utilizing those vaccines at our clinics and via our mobile vans.
• We are scheduled to receive at least 4,400 first dose vaccines from the State next week, which we will get out to Prince Georgians. The State will not receive a shipment of Johnson & Johnson vaccines next week. We do not expect to receive any additional supply of that single-dose vaccine for a week or more. 

To view this week's COVID-19 Vaccine Bulletin, click on the graphic to the left or visit the following weblink: http://ow.ly/zr4L30ryBaf.

Food Resources

Stand Up & Deliver

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 62% of our County’s public school children received free and reduced lunch. Since this pandemic began, more than 90,000 residents have been laid off from work.

This has further compounded challenges and increased the limitations for many families to provide meals daily.  Additionally, our first responders and medical professionals who are fighting on the front lines of this pandemic rarely have an opportunity to stop serving and purchase a meal.

Financial Assistance For WSSC Customers

Attention Residents,

WSSC has enhanced its financial assistance programs to extend its reach to more customers and make arrangements for customers to significantly reduce their WSSC Water bills.

Need help right now? 
Need long term assistance with your WSSC bill?

Contact WSSC's Customer Service Line at 301-206-4001.  WSSC Customer Services Advisors are available to determine a payment option that will fit your situation.  Learn more about bill adjustments, flexible payment options, the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and WSSC's Water Fund.

To learn more about WSSC Water’s customer financial assistance programs, please visit: www.wsscwater.com/assistance. For information in Spanish, please go to ww.wsscwater.com/asistencia.  Click on the graphic above to view additional details and to download the flyer.

Internet Essentials from COMCAST

An Internet connection at home is more important than ever. Bring affordable, high-speed Internet
home so you’re ready for anything.

For an affordable monthly price, Internet Essentials customers can enjoy the benefits of xFi Advanced Security, access to millions of X-finity WiFi hotspots
outside the home, and the option to purchase a laptop or desktop computer for just $149.99 + tax.

2 months of free Internet Essentials service for new customers.

To apply, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376.  Offer ends on June 30, 2021.

County Restaurants are Encouraged to
Register for the Dine Prince George's Contest

ATTENTION COUNTY RESTAURANTS!

Enter your restaurant for a chance to win up to $3,000 in the Dine Prince George's Restaurant Contest! It takes less than 5 minutes to enter and you have multiple chances to win.

Entry Period: March 1st -13th
Voting Starts: Monday, March 15th

For more information and to enter, click the flyer to the left or visit www.PGCEDC.com/dineprincegeorges.

Learn More About the
Maryland Commuter Tax Credit

Did you know that Maryland businesses, 501c3, and 501c4 organizations are eligible for a Commuter Tax Credit?

Employers that subsidize or provide commuter benefits to their employees including public/private transit, vanpools, Guaranteed Ride Home, or cash in lieu of parking, may claim 50% of the cost, up to $100 per employee per month.

That can generate a huge savings and help you provide affordable transportation options to your employees. The 2021 limit for pre-tax and/or subsidized transportation benefits is $270 per employee per month.

Need some help setting up a commuter benefits program for your organization? Contact the RideSmart Solutions program manager at info.pgcridesmartsolutions@co.pg.md.us today. 

Small Businesses Invited
to Apply to COMCAST Rise

Recently, small businesses have been dealing with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, social unrest, and environmental events.

COMCAST has been working proactively to help its small business customers through its COMCAST Rise Program. Independent small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and today, more than ever, small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are hurting. Through the Comcast RISE Program, there is a goal to create sustainable impact and give meaningful support to the small businesses that are shaping communities.

To review eligibility requirements, visit or click on the COMCAST Rise graphic to the left to download the flyer.

Selected businesses will receive one or more of the following business services:

Consulting
Advertising and marketing consultations with local
Effective marketing, research, and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow your business.

Media
A linear TV media schedule over a 90-day period.

Creative Production
Turnkey production of a 30-second TV commercial, plus a media strategy consultation and 90-day media schedule.

Technology Makeover
Computer equipment and Internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12 month period
to support business recovery (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services).

Prince George’s County Beautification Committee

The Prince George’s County Beautification Committee is now accepting applications for the 2021 Prince George’s County Beautification Awards. 

Through the Beautification Awards Program, Prince George’s County honors those who have contributed to the community through excellence in gardening and landscape design. The Beautification Committee is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the preservation of Prince George’s County as a healthy and pleasant place to live and work.

The Council District 6 Team would love to see our District 6 communities be recognized for their work throughout the County.

Additional information can be found at pgcbeautification.com.  You can also access the site by clicking on the graphic to the left.  Questions can also be directed to Prince George's County Beautification Committee member, Brooke Westby, by dialing 301-627-7758 or emailing pgc.beautification@gmail.com.

Curbside Bulky Trash Collection
Accepting April Appointments

Remember Residents!  Items that are too big to fit in your trash bin won’t be hauled away in your regular curbside trash collection. Schedule your curbside bulky trash appointment today by calling 311 or visiting: bulkytrash.princegeorgescountymd.gov.  To view a larger version of this flier, click the graphic to the left.

COVID-19 2nd Dose Appointments:
What You Need To Know

What To Know

• As appointment become available based on vaccine supply, staff will follow up with individuals who have pre-registered to schedule appointments via phone.
• Due to limited supplies of vaccines, it may take several weeks or longer for eligible individuals to received appointments.

Current COVID-19 vaccines require two doses given several weeks apart.  You should not receive your second dose earlier than recommended.  The CDC advises second doses should be given as close as possible to the recommended timeframe since the first dose was administered. 

For more information on the 2nd dose timing between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as well as details surrounding the 2nd dose appointment, click on the graphic to the left.  Information and common questions about the newly released Johnson & Johnson can be found by viewing the following video narrated by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Vaccine Sites: Inclement Weather Policy

Residents, we are in the midst of Winter, where the forecasts change from week to week. To that end, appointments at County Health Department vaccination clinics may be cancelled due to inclement weather.

If appointments must be cancelled due to inclement weather:

•  You will receive an email, text or phone call from the Health Department;
•  Updates will be posted on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) (@cexalsobrooks & @pgchealth);
•  Updates will be posted at mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine

If appointments are cancelled, everyone with an appointment will receive instructions to reschedule their appointment. 

Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details and to download the flier.

COVID-19 Vaccine Reminder

Residents,

If you receive a COVID-19 vaccine appointment link from our County Health Department, please do not share that link with family, friends and colleagues.

The Health Department uses the pre-registration list to send appointment links to eligible individuals as appointments become available based on vaccine supply.

What happens when you share your appointment link with your friends, family and colleagues?  The Health Department must manually delete those individuals that are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine.  When individuals who are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine schedule an appointment, this creates delays in scheduling individuals who are eligible, and also creates longer lines at our clinics.  Click on the graphic to the left to view additional details and to download the flyer.

Vaccine Appointment On Time

We know you are eager to get your COVID-19 vaccine so you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your fellow Prince Georgians. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes in advance of your scheduled appointment so the County can serve everyone efficiently.