She said Frederick County is receiving “less than our fair share”
Frederick, MD (KB) At a public information briefing on Wednesday, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner said she is concerned about the decrease in COVID-19 vaccine allocations the county has received this week, and is set to receive in the next three weeks.
In the past, the Frederick County Health Department and the Frederick Health Hospital received between 2,000 and 3,250 first doses, collectively. For the current week and the three to follow, the health department has been allocated 1,300 doses and the hospital has been allocated 100 doses, for a total of 1,400 first doses.
Gardner said the local public health system has been efficient in distributing the vaccine. She said there has been a lack of transparency when it comes to where the vaccines are being re-allocated to.
The County Executive said that the vaccine doses allocated to Frederick County are disproportionate to the population. Gardner said some residents who are eligible for the vaccine are choosing to travel to mass vaccination sites to schedule an appointment, however, many residents do not have the means to travel to these sites.
A total of 30,006 first doses have been administered to Frederick County residents in the 10th week of distribution. That roughly equals 11.6% of the population.
Currently, individuals in groups 1A and 1B are being vaccinated, as well as some in group 1C. Priority is given to those who were born in or before 1947.
A listing of all available vaccination clinics in Maryland can be found at www.covidvax.maryland.gov
For the most up to date information on eligibility, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/covidvaccine
If you know someone who was born in 1947 or before without internet access, please encourage them to call 301-600-7900 (English) or 301-600-7905 (Spanish) for vaccination appointment assistance.