Vaccine Preregistration No Longer Needed At County Sites

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel residents no longer need to preregister for the coronavirus vaccine at county-run clinics. Appointments are now available to all locals 16 and up on a first-come, first-served basis. The switch only applies to locations operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, which announced this new policy on Tuesday.

Private providers, like pharmacies, have always followed a similar process. They open timeslots to everybody eligible for the immunization. Residents then head to their websites and search for an available shot.

The New Process

County-run sites will now use this same system. They previously required locals to sign-up to be notified when an inoculation is ready for them.

That preregistration site, aacounty.org/covidvax, will transition to an appointment scheduling webpage Tuesday evening. Health officials will release new timeslots on that website on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and on Thursdays at noon.

Residents can head to that webpage or call (410) 222-7256 to book their shot. Locals may not get an appointment on their first try, however, because the county does not have unlimited doses.

"Preregistration was the key to managing the process when demand exceeded supply," County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a press release. "As we move into lower demand and higher supply, our team has stayed ahead of the curve, removing steps in the process and expanding locations."

Other Options

Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday that all Marylanders 16 and up can get the immunization at one of the state's mass vaccination sites starting Tuesday. Every shot provider in the state must offer inoculations to these residents by next Monday.

Most high-volume clinics still require preregistration by visiting onestop.md.gov/preregistration or dialing (855) 634-6829.

A mass vaccination site will open at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis on April 15. Appointments are preferred but not necessary.

Hospitals still require preregistration through their individual websites.

Larger Vaccine Allocations

These developments come as immunization shipments start to grow. President Joe Biden told states to expect larger allocations starting March 29.

Anne Arundel County's rising inoculation total reflects that increase. With most of Anne Arundel's at-risk populations vaccinated, the county thinks it can handle an influx of eligibility.

Infections Still Increasing

Local coronavirus metrics are still climbing, despite the expanded rollout. New cases have risen for six straight weeks, and the positivity rate is the highest it has been since January.

"COVID-19 is still spreading in our community," Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said in the release, reminding residents to mask up and socially distance. "The vaccines are effective at preventing the severe consequences of COVID-19: hospitalization and death."

Coronavirus Vaccine Resources

To see when you'll be eligible for the coronavirus inoculation, read Patch's explainer. Check out our how-to guide to learn how to sign up for the shot.

Catch up on the latest coronavirus infection and vaccination metrics in Anne Arundel County with our most recent numbers update. Head to Patch's immunization page to keep up with Maryland's latest vaccine news.

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RELATED:

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• COVID-19 Vaccine Open To Marylanders 16 And Up Starting April 6

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.