ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday.
Maryland will enter Phase 1B on Monday. That includes residents who are 75 and older. People in assisted living and behavioral health group homes and other congregate facilities are included in that phase, as well as key government officials. It also includes K-12 teachers, support staff and child care providers.
State Superintendent of Education Karen Salmon has submitted plans for how each jurisdiction will vaccinate its educators. School systems will begin to implement those plans in the coming weeks.
Maryland will make 50,000 doses available next week to hospitals, county health departments, and federally qualified health centers to launch clinics focused on elderly populations, the Hogan administration said.
The state will enter Phase 1C on Jan. 25. That includes Maryland residents ages 65 to 74. Public health and safety workers not covered in Phase 1A also are included, as well as essential workers in lab services, food and agriculture production, manufacturing, the U.S. Postal Service, public transit, and grocery stores.
Maryland is launching a pilot program for COVID-19 vaccines to be administered at Giant and Walmart pharmacies beginning the week of Jan. 25. It will be available at 22 Giant locations across the state, three Martin’s locations in Allegany and Washington counties, as well as 10 Walmart locations in western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.
Maryland residents eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination can visit covidvax.maryland.gov and enter their address, ZIP code or location to view vaccination clinics available within a 50-mile radius. Users are then directed to contact the clinic of their choice for scheduling and more information. Additional sites will be added as vaccination capacity expands.
Maryland’s health department and the National Guard are working with private-sector partners to open mass vaccination sites at central locations across the state for when the federal allocation of vaccines increases.
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