HoCo Residents Attempt To Sneak Into COVID Vaccination Slots

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Even though only first responders and frontline health-care workers can receive the coronavirus vaccine in Howard County, numerous ineligible people attempted to register for a spot to be vaccinated and steal a vaccine not intended for them.

The Howard County Health Department sends out a notification link to those who are eligible so they can sign up in an orderly fashion. But within a 24-hour period, the link was shared among hundreds of people, according to Howard County Health Officer Dr. Maura Rossman.

It is believed that those originally eligible for the vaccine shared their private registration link with family, friends and colleagues, Howard County Health Department officials said.

While none of the people ineligible to receive the vaccine were given a dose, their claim of a vaccination spot through the system operated by the Maryland Department of Health took away from those who were eligible. It also took longer to vaccinate those who qualified.

The department requires photo identification in order to receive the vaccine, which stopped those who cut in line from receiving a vaccination.

"Our check-in process is one that prevented that and those not eligible were turned away," Lisa de Hernandez with the Howard County Health Department told Patch.

This past weekend, the state released new guidelines regarding who can receive the vaccines, de Hernandez said.

"The guidance was to accept any health-care provider with a current health-care license and photo ID who lives or works in Howard County, which is what we are doing now. The first clinics with our first responders and now health-care providers went very well. The process is very straightforward and pretty quick. Including the 15-minute mandatory post-vaccine waiting period, the process takes about 20-30 minutes," de Hernandez said.

She emphasized the county is "working very hard" to ensure the vaccination process is "efficient and safe."

"We are planning the expansion of our operations to include multiple sites and extended hours as we move into Phase 1B. As we do that, we will be sure to broadly announce how and when those in the next phase can receive the vaccine. Until that time, they should keep an eye on our website," de Hernandez said.

By New Year's Day, more than 800 vaccinations had been administered in Howard County. As of Thursday, the Howard County Health Department received 4,500 vaccines and administered more than 2,600 doses. Ball noted that Howard County Health Department will have 100 percent of its current vaccine allocation administered by Tuesday and is expecting additional doses next week.

“With hope on the horizon, it is critical that we implement a safe, efficient vaccine administration process,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “We will work quickly, effectively, and equitably to vaccinate our community members as we receive vaccine from our partners at the state. We know that this vaccine is a key to long-term recovery from COVID-19, and in order to get back to hugging our loved ones, sharing meals with family and friends, returning to school and workplaces, we must all work together.” 

• Increasetraining of additional staff and volunteers, including the National Guard and HCPSS nurses.
• Work through site selection and evaluating sites across the county.
• Consistently communicate information through the health department.
• Work with public and private partners to ensure that distribution is accessible to everyone as supply becomes available – including clinics that are offered seven days a week.

“With a limited supply of available vaccine, the health department is working as quickly, efficiently and as safely as possible to get vaccine to those first responders and healthcare providers in Phase 1A,” said Dr. Maura Rossman, Howard County Health Officer. “As supply increases, we will expand our clinics to add additional locations and hours. We understand that people are looking to receive vaccinations immediately, but we ask for your patience and cooperation while vaccine is limited. We will let the public know as soon as we are able to move to Phase 1B.”

The COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan mapped out by the governor is in four stages:

• Phase 1A includes health care workers, long-term facility care staff and first responders.
• Phase 1B includes people with higher risk and/or underlying conditions and adults in congregate settings.
• Phase 2 makes the vaccine available to people in other critical essential infrastructure settings.
• Phase 3 makes the vaccine available to the general population.

Once the state reaches Phase 3, the vaccine will be given like a flu shot at a pharmacy, clinic or doctor's office.

Read more:

Marylanders Try To Cut Line For Coronavirus Vaccine: Hogan