The framework for Maryland’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has been released – and includes distribution categories for populations to receive it, beginning with health care workers and senior living residents.
The plan, summarized in a brief document distributed by the Maryland Department of Health, seeks to distribute vaccine in multiple stages, targeting workers with high exposure and highest risk populations as early as possible.
A summary of the plan’s major components covers the essentials and the steps ahead.
The full state plan, as submitted to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, is available online.
A series of Frequently Asked Questions about the vaccination plan is available on the MDH website.
From that FAQ document, an important message about the steps ahead:
Maryland is working with partners at the federal, state, local and community level to work through the logistics of delivering, storing and administering the COVID-19 vaccine once it is available. Maryland is also making sure that people have the information they need to be confident in deciding to get vaccinated. Key priorities include:
- Developing and regularly sharing clear and accurate information with people to make sure they understand the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated and can make informed decisions.
- Helping healthcare providers answer their patients’ questions about the vaccine.
- Engaging communities and individuals in an equitable and inclusive way to ensure that people have opportunities to ask questions and get clear, accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Easy access to COVID-19 vaccines is equally critical. Maryland is working with public health professionals, healthcare providers, and other partners to make sure people can easily get a COVID-19 vaccine and that cost is not a barrier.
For more details and context, see Conduit Street coverage of the General Assembly’s Coronavirus Response Work Group meeting from earlier in the week (including a MDH presentation o the plan itself), and of the State Superintendent of Schools’ request that in-school teachers be among the priority groups for vaccinations.
Download the MDH Plan Summary from the link below:
