Only 15K Vaccines, But 110K People To Vaccinate: HoCo Officials

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — With only 15,025 vaccines received from the state so far and 15,000 people who fall into Phase 1A followed by 95,000 people in Phase 1B and 1C, the Howard County Health Department noted Thursday that it continues to focus on vaccinating healthcare providers and first responders in Phase 1A and county residents who are 75 years and older in Phase 1B.

"Our team is working around the clock to ensure residents can receive the vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible. Please note that demand will continue to exceed supply for the foreseeable future," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball noted on Facebook. "Thank you to the Howard County Health Department healthcare workers who are diligently ensuring the process is as smooth and efficient as possible. We’re doing everything we can to make this process go faster once we have the supply."

The Howard County Health Department has opened up a number of vaccine pre-registration surveys on its COVID-19 vaccine website, vaccine.howardcountymd.gov. These surveys allow individuals who fall within a designated survey group to provide the health department with their contact information so the department can contact them when appointments open up to their group.

An online petition has been launched arguing against reopening classrooms within the Howard County Public School System until teachers and staff have been vaccinated. Beginning in March, Howard County students will start returning to the classroom with a hybrid in-person A-group/B-group plan in which students are split up into two different groups. The Howard County school board approved a plan at its meeting Tuesday after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and State Superintendent Karen Salmon stated recently that school districts would be mandated to open in a hybrid format by March 1. The school district's approximately 56,000 students have been learning online since last April when the coronavirus pandemic prompted officials to shut its doors.

"Nowhere in the state's guidance document is there a requirement that health metrics be at a certain level prior to implementing a hybrid instructional model. In fact, the guidance document goes to great lengths to demonstrate that the spread in schools does not align to the spread and metrics of the general population," Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael J. Martirano stated. "I want to make clear that students and staff who return to school buildings and/or ride school buses will wear protective face masks and adhere to social distancing and other guidelines to ensure we maintain a healthy school and work environment."

For the most up-to-date information about the health department's distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov or contact the department's coronavirus information line at 410-313-6284.

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