ANNAPOLIS, Md. — While demand for a COVID-19 vaccine continues to significantly outweigh current supply, Governor Larry Hogan on Thursday rolled out an aggressive timeline for when all Maryland citizens age 16 and up can expect to be eligible for one.
Beginning March 23 the state will enter Phase 2A of the vaccination process, meaning all residents 60 and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine.
Phase 2B will follow a week later, on March 30, which includes those 16 and older who are at increased risk with underlying medical conditions.
About two weeks later on April 13, Phase 2C will go into effect to include anyone 55 and older, as well as workers in the construction, food services, utilities, financial services, and IT fields.
Then, no later than April 27 the state expects to enter Phase 3 where everyone 16 and older is eligible.
Despite the move into Phase 2, appointments for those in Phase 1 will remain priority.
Hogan emphasized that just because you may be eligible for a vaccine, doesn't mean you will immediately be able to receive one.
“With the announcement of this plan, every single Marylander now knows when they will become eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine," said Hogan. "Our goal throughout this process remains the same: we do not want to leave any Marylander behind.”
The state does not expect shipments of new vaccines to ramp up until at least the week of March 29.
In the meantime, the state is launching a pilot program that provides vaccines to primary care practices.
Initially, 37 practices in largely African American and Hispanic communities will be given vaccines.
Another new program being established will support hospitals and their efforts to get vaccines out to communities less fortunate.
Made possible by the Maryland Model healthcare finance system, the program will provide $12 million for hospital-led community-based initiatives.
The state is planning to continue the deployment of mobile clinics in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
They will be staffed by the Maryland National Guard and give out between 60 and 160 vaccines per trip.
As of Thursday, Maryland surpassed the 2 million mark of vaccine doses given. About 21.45 percent of the state's population has now received their first dose compared to 11.386 percent who've gotten their second. Less than one percent have gotten the new one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Here's a better look at the timeline of who is eligible when.
To pre-register for an appointment at any of Maryland's mass vaccination sites, click here or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX.
