January 14, 2021
COLUMBIA, MD – The Howard County Health Department is preparing to enter Vaccination Phase 1B and begin providing vaccine to Howard County residents who are 75 years and older, beginning Monday, January 25. At the end of the day Thursday, January 14, the Health Department expects to have completed nearly 5,500 vaccinations out of the total 7,600 doses that have been received to date. All vaccine doses currently received by the Health Department are scheduled to be distributed to those in Phase 1A by early next week.
“Howard County has been one of the fastest in the state to get vaccines into the arms of those in Phase 1A,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “We’re quickly ramping up our infrastructure and are ready to receive more vaccine from the State as it becomes available. We are prepared to begin vaccinating Phase 1B beginning January 25 and are encouraging people within that group to complete our questionnaire and provide their contact information. This scope of vaccination is unprecedented, and I’d like to assure our community that we are working as quickly as possible to get the vaccine to our residents.”
“As more vaccine is made available in Howard County, we are working as quickly as possible to ensure this vaccine gets into the arms of those who need it most,” said Dr. Maura Rossman, Howard County Health Officer. “This is a significant undertaking that has required working with our County partners to plan and execute expanded vaccination efforts. Providing this vaccine to our community is key to helping us all return to normal.”
The Health Department estimates there are up to 15,000 healthcare workers and first responders included in Phase 1A. It is estimated that there are more than 18,000 adults ages 75 and older living in Howard County. In total, it is estimated that there are more than 95,000 people included in Phases 1A, 1B and 1C in Howard County that will be eligible to receive vaccination in the coming weeks.
Due to limited vaccine supply, the Health Department has been limited to administering approximately 3,000 vaccinations each week. Plans to expand to additional facilities around the County and increase vaccination capacity are ongoing.
To prepare for this new vaccination phase, the Health Department is requesting that all Howard County residents age 75 and older who want to be vaccinated complete its questionnaire (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CoVaClinic75) to provide their contact information to the Health Department. Every eligible individual who completes this survey will be added to a contact list and receive a separate email with appointment and registration information in the next 10 days.
Please note: Residents WILL NOT receive an appointment after completing the survey. They will be emailed in the next 10 days with additional instructions explaining how to make an appointment.
After two weeks prioritizing those most vulnerable adults age 75 and older, the Health Department will begin to open vaccinations to Howard County residents ages 65-74. Howard County residents ages 65-74 who wish to join a separate contact list for Phase 1C vaccine availability should complete this survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CoVaClinic65).
Those who are unable to complete the survey online should consider asking a friend, neighbor or family member for assistance. Those 75+ can also email HoCovaccine@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-6284 for assistance completing the survey.
The survey for adults age 75 and older can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CoVaClinic75.
The survey for adults ages 65-74 can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CoVaClinic65
For more information about ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Howard County, visit https://bit.ly/HoCOVIDVaccine or call 410-313-6284.
Additional resources for residents in need, including food, rent, and other assistance, can be found online at StayCOVIDSafe.howardcountymd.gov.