MD Governor, First Lady Tour Columbia COVID-19 Vaccination Site

COLUMBIA, MD — Gov. Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan joined Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Wednesday to tour a vaccine clinic held at Bridgeway Church in Columbia. The clinic is a partnership between the state’s Vaccine Equity Task Force, Howard County Health Department and other county agencies.

“Our Mobile Integrated Community Health team, health department and department of community resources and services have been so effective in setting up these local vaccine clinics to reach more of our community,” Ball said at a news conference. “Since the vaccine became available, we have quickly been getting shots in arms and nearly 45 percent of our residents have received their first dose. Now with expanded eligibility and increasing supply, we must do the hard work of ensuring that communities of color, our more vulnerable residents, neighbors with limited English proficiency, residents of all abilities and people who have limited access to online registration can get their vaccine."

In Howard County, 97 percent of seniors 75 and older have been fully vaccinated, but "our job isn’t done until we reach everyone who wants a vaccine," Ball said. Hogan noted that strides are being made in vaccinating as many residents as possible.

“This pandemic is not behind us, but we are making tremendous progress thanks to state and local partnerships like this one in Howard County,” Hogan said. “We have 11,400 people who are involved in giving vaccines across the state. We have administered a total of 3.6 million vaccines, 80 percent of all the people over 65 years of age and 50 percent of all the people over 18 have received a vaccine. Our goal is to not leave any arms behind.”