Health Department Gives First Doses of Moderna Vaccine
Westminster, MD (December 30, 2020) – The Carroll County Health Department administered 103 doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine to local EMS and testing center staff today. These two groups are part of Phase 1A along with other front-line healthcare workers.
Among those vaccinated today was Ed Singer, Health Officer for Carroll County. In addition to being essential personnel and working with COVID-19 positive residents who need isolation and quarantine orders, Singer wanted to be vaccinated to demonstrate his confidence in the vaccine. “As an individual, I am very excited to be vaccinated against COVID-19 because the data shows that it is highly (94-95%) effective in protecting me from infection. I also feel very safe receiving the vaccination because extensive clinical trials have shown few side effects.”
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David Coe, EMS Operations Chair for Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association, and his brother Tom Coe, a firefighter and paramedic in New Windsor, came together to get their first vaccination. “It’s a hopeful day,” said David Coe. “It means the end of the pandemic is coming.”
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School nurse Buddy Buscemi, a volunteer at today’s clinic, echoed that sentiment. “This is what’s going to end the pandemic – it’s the first step forward in returning us to normal.” Buscemi is a Maryland Responds volunteer and has worked in the Health Department’s testing site. Many school nurses and other Maryland Responds volunteers assisted with the clinic.
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The groups in Phase 1A are considered high-risk because they often come in contact with people who are COVID positive. When asked why she got the vaccine, Megan Kwiatkowski from the Reese and Community Volunteer Fire Department said “I got the vaccine to protect my family and for my job.”
The Health Department is scheduled to receive significant amounts of COVID-19 vaccine weekly starting next week. If the weekly allotment is consistent, they anticipate being able to vaccinate most people in Phase 1A by the end of January. This includes most Carroll County healthcare professionals providing direct patient care. To assist in planning, health care providers who are not affiliated with a hospital or long-term care facility should submit information for themselves or their practice on the Health Department’s provider information page at https://cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19-information-for-providers/
Once most of the people in Phase 1A are vaccinated, the health department will be able to begin vaccinating other priority groups. Details on each phase are still being determined at the state and local level. The timing of vaccination in each phase depends on vaccine availability and other factors.
At this time, the CCHD is not able to provide any vaccine to the general public or register people to receive doses. People who are interested in being vaccinated should regularly check the Health Department’s website and social media, as well as other local media, for more information about the vaccination process, and how and when they will be able to be vaccinated. The vaccination page at https://cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19-vaccination/ also includes more resources and information about safety, efficacy, vaccine ingredients, and more. People should also contact their healthcare provider for more information about the vaccination process and their personal health.
Singer said that Health Department staff will be focused on vaccinating as many people as possible over the next several weeks. “My staff and I are thrilled to begin this phase of our response. We know that we will still need to wear masks, avoid large groups, and socially distance for many more months, but vaccinating a large portion of our population will eventually get us through the pandemic.”
Effective January 4th, the Health Department will be reducing services, so staff can focus on providing COVID-19 vaccinations and continuing the Ag Center testing site. Services that are currently available will continue, but appointments may be limited.
This Health Department is actively looking for volunteers to help with this vaccination effort; medical training is not required though welcome. Please sign up today through the Maryland Responds network https://mdresponds.health.maryland.gov/
You may also call the Health Department’s COVID-19 Call Center at 410-876-4848, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Health Department will be closed on Friday, January 1st for New Year’s Day.
More information on COVID-19 in Carroll County can be found on the Health Department’s page: https://cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19/
The Health Department is working closely with many community partners to ask all county residents to help move #CarrollForward together; learn more at https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/residents/carroll-forward/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maggie Kunz,
Health Planner,
443-721-3099
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