Mass vaccination centers in Maryland are beginning a “phased demobilization” process as the state begins to shift vaccinations to mobile clinics and community-based providers, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday.
Several locations will stop providing first doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in the coming weeks, transitioning to second doses only. Most sites will continue to provide the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine until they close permanently. Appointments are not required.
The state has already ceased operations at the FEMA-operated clinic in Greenbelt. Next to close will be the site at Hagerstown Premium Outlets, which will move its operations to Meritus Hospital as of June 5. The site at Six Flags will remain open until July 17.
The Hogan administration has posted a complete timeline of closures and vaccine availability on the governor’s website.
Maryland has administered nearly 1 million shots through its nine mass vaccination sites, according to state health secretary Dennis Schrader.
“The mass vaccination program has been a major accelerant of our vaccine effort since early 2021,” Schrader said in a statement. “We continue to partner with our local health departments, primary care physicians, hospitals, and other COVID-19 vaccine providers to offer vaccines to all eligible Marylanders.”
Residents seeking inoculations can access free rides through Uber and Lyft, as well as free short-term child care through KinderCare, Learning Care Group, and local YMCAs, according to the administration. The state has also kicked off a “summer tour” for its mobile vaccine clinics, which will appear at cultural events, breweries, and other popular destinations across the state this summer. More than 700 pharmacies are also offering shots, according to Hogan’s office.
“I said our goal was to put ourselves out of business at these mass vaccination sites, and as one of the most vaccinated states in the country, we are now approaching that point,” Hogan said in a statement.
More than 70% of Maryland adults have received at least one vaccine dose, according to state data, meeting President Joe Biden’s goal to at least partially vaccinate 70% of the nation’s adults by July 4. But some counties continue to lag behind, particularly the state’s more rural localities to the east and west. Just 31% of Somerset County’s population is fully vaccinated, compared with 53% in Montgomery County.
Demand for vaccinations has declined considerably in recent weeks. The state launched a vaccine lottery to entice more residents to get inoculated.
A complete list of vaccine providers is posted on the state’s official vaccination website.
Ally Schweitzer