Bowie Baysox Ready To Help Vaccine Rollout If Asked: Report

BOWIE, MD — The Bowie Baysox said they are ready to help Prince George's County roll out the coronavirus vaccine. The minor league baseball team's statement comes as one Bowie leader asked the county to open an immunization clinic in the city.

"We stand ready to support our community especially in times of need," Baysox General Manager Brian Shallcross said in a Thursday press release. "Ensuring there is equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine is a priority for the Bowie Baysox organization. Our team and staff are ready to assist in any way possible."

The team's ballpark, Prince George's Stadium, will be empty until its home opener on May 11. That leaves a large parking lot, playing field and concourse available for potential use.

Many unused parking lots and stadiums around the world currently serve as inoculation sites. In Maryland, these vacant gathering spots now house mass immunization clinics:

• The inside of the Baltimore Convention Center
• The parking lot at Upper Marlboro's Six Flags
• The club level in Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium

Another local minor league baseball team, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, recently joined the cause. The Waldorf team will open its Regency Furniture Stadium as the state's fourth high-volume vaccine center by March 11.

Bowie does not yet have a coronavirus immunization clinic, though it is the largest municipality in Prince George's County. Adrian Boafo, the city's mayor pro tem, wants to change that.

Boafo wrote to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks Thursday asking her to open an inoculation site in the city. Though Boafo did not specifically suggest using Prince George's Stadium as a clinic, he pointed to the team's willingness to help.

"We are so fortunate to have community partners such as the Bowie Baysox, standing ready to assist in any way possible," Boafo said in the release. "The addition of a vaccination center in Bowie will help us tackle the challenges we face from this virus."

To see when you'll be eligible for the 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 Prince George's County by heading to our latest numbers update.

RELATED:

• Hospitalizations Plunge As Prince George's Continues To Recover
• Coronavirus Vaccine: Prince George's County Lays Out Timeline
• How To Get Coronavirus Vaccine In Prince George's County
• Centralized Vaccine Sign-Up Proposed By MD Lawmaker
• Hybrid Classes Will Start In Prince George's County

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.