MD Pharmacies Will Give Vaccine; Hogan Touts Network During Visit

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD — Gov. Larry Hogan flexed an expanded coronavirus vaccine network during a Wednesday visit to a Giant Pharmacy. The District Heights clinic is one of more than 50 retail pharmacies that will administer the immunization by next week, Hogan announced Tuesday.

Some Giant, Martin's and Walmart pharmacies are already distributing the inoculations. Select Rite Aids and Safeways will start next week.

"COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective, and will be our best tool to finally put an end to this deadly pandemic," Hogan said in a press release.

Though demand is high, the supply of vaccines is still limited. Maryland gets about 10,000 daily doses from the federal government, and everybody needs to get the shot twice.

The state is currently working through its stockpile of immunizations that it collected while beefing up its rollout. Maryland vaccinators administered about 23,000 doses on Tuesday. They average around 20,000 shots-per-day.

Hogan has tried to speed up the process across the state. He has activated the National Guard, incentivized slower counties to pick up their pace and prepared for mass immunization clinics. Despite these efforts, Maryland is still bound by the number of doses it receives from the federal government.

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The state has five phases of vaccination: 1A, 1B, 1C, 2 and 3. The first wave focused on:

• Health care workers
• Residents and staff of nursing homes
• First responders.

The second period began on Jan. 18. It included:

• Residents and staff of assisted living and congregate living facilities
• Everybody age 75 and up
• Educators
• Those needed for continuity of government

Maryland entered stage 1C on Monday. That opened the door to everybody age 65 to 74 and essential workers in these industries:

• Lab services
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Postal service

Though the state is clearing more people for the shot, some Marylanders in the first two groups are still struggling to get an appointment.

"We are working hard to promote vaccine confidence and ensure equitable access while we await more doses from the federal government," the governor said.

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Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and County Council Chair Calvin Hawkins joined Hogan during Wednesday's tour.

Prince George's has the slowest inoculation rollout in the state. The county has vaccinated 2.4 percent of its population.

That's about half the rate of neighboring Charles County, which is the second-slowest jurisdiction. Talbot County leads the way with 11.18 percent immunization.

"We ask for your continued patience as we navigate the unprecedented mass vaccination of Prince Georgians," Alsobrooks said on Twitter.

To see when you'll be eligible for the shot, read Maryland's vaccination plan. Check the state's immunization progress on its data dashboard. Prince George's County residents can head to Patch's latest coronavirus inoculation and infection update.

RELATED:

• Mass Vaccination Sites Ahead For MD, Vaccine Eligibility Expands
• Hogan Gets Coronavirus Vaccine On Camera, Hopes To Show It's Safe
• Maryland Accelerates COVID-19 Vaccination Plan: Gov. Larry Hogan
• Marylanders Try To Cut Line For Coronavirus Vaccine: Hogan
• Hogan Shifts Vaccine Plan, Hopes To Overcome Slow Distribution

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.