For immediate release: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Montgomery County is now vaccinating residents 75 and older and will continue to provide appointment links to others in Priority Group 1B as vaccine delivery permits. A national shortage of the COVID-19 vaccine and the limited amount of doses that Montgomery County and the state receive weekly will result in fewer pre-registered residents with an immediate consultation. More than 50,000 residents 75 years of age or older have signed up so far, and the county receives an average of 6,000 weekly doses. The county, like other major jurisdictions in the state, may not pass through the priority group stages as quickly as other parts of Maryland Because demand and limited supply of vaccines.
To focus limited vaccine supply on the most vulnerable individuals, county health officials are restricting access to vaccines to everyone except those who follow the official pre-registration process. The Montgomery County government is aware that the naming links have been forwarded and the state’s naming system does not have a filter to prevent sharing a link. Sharing links has created confusion for residents and is negatively impacting the vaccine distribution process. The County is working with state officials to modify the system to prevent this. Residents should not forward the scheduling link to a third party.
When eligible, and based on vaccine delivery, residents who have already registered will receive a direct link from [email protected] to make an appointment. People who have not received a link directly from the county and attend a vaccine clinic administered by the county will not be served unless they are in Priority Group 1A or 75 or older. Do not forward a commitment link if you receive it.
Those at levels within Priority Group 1B, including teachers, child caregivers, essential workers and individuals 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 ray of hope,” said county executive Marc Elrich. “Governor Hogan and I had a positive conversation yesterday about how to coordinate our efforts more effectively. We both know that 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, help us to ensure that the naming and distribution system is efficient – do not forward links and do not use forwarded links. “
While Montgomery County is now in Phase 1B, level 1, vaccinating those aged 75 and over, the county’s Department of Health and Human Services staff continues to vaccinate Phase 1A residents, which includes health care professionals facing.
“We are working diligently to ensure that our populations hardest hit by COVID-19, both in terms of cases and fatalities, including residential zip code, race, ethnicity and age, are taken into account in the vaccine distribution process,” said County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles.
County health officials continue to work closely with the state on limited vaccine supplies and high demand. The county is also working with other health partners, including local hospitals and health systems, to expand the number of vaccines available. The long-term goal, depending on the production and distribution of the vaccine, is that the public has the opportunity to receive vaccination in the coming months.
Some private providers are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine. These hospitals and pharmacies are independent of the vaccine facilities administered by the county.
Visit the county’s COVID19 vaccine page for a more detailed description of priority groups. Pre-registration for initial priority groups is also available on the vaccine website.
Residents can also subscribe to the vaccine website for weekly updates. E-mails and text messages will be a way to update the community about the county’s progress in reaching priority groups.
For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the county’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD. Residents can also sign up to receive text or email updates on COVID-19 vaccines.
# # #
Release ID: 21-053
Media contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6507