Governor Hogan announces draft of Md. COVID-19 vaccination plan

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On Tuesday, Governor Larry Hogan announced the release of the State of Maryland’s initial draft COVID-19 mass vaccination plan, which was submitted to the CDC last week.

“In anticipation of a COVID-19 vaccine, Maryland stands ready to order, distribute, and administer it effectively and rapidly as soon as a vaccine becomes available,” said Governor Hogan. “The State of Maryland’s plan for this historic undertaking will immediately make the vaccine available to Marylanders at highest risk of developing complications from COVID-19 as well as our critical frontline health care workers and essential workers in public safety and education.”

We’re told this vaccination plan draft focuses on two major phases of vaccine availability and distribution. Phase 1 will focus on priority groups to receive vaccination, while Phase 2 will have wide-scale vaccine availability for the general population. In addition, vaccine supply is expected to rapidly increase once distribution begins, alleviating the need to limit vaccine administration.

Phase 1 will target those at highest risk of developing complications from the virus and those in critical industries. This includes frontline first responders and health care workers evaluating and caring for COVID-19 patients, staff and residents of nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and assisted living facilities, and essential workers including public safety, education, and staff in congregate living facilities.

Specific vaccination metrics will be used to assess Phase 1 vaccination progress and determine where additional effort is needed. Those metrics may include the percent of Phase 1 population vaccinated, percent and number of residents and staff at long-term care facilities vaccinated, determination of an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine throughout the state for the Phase 1 population and percent and number of Phase 1 population pre-registered.

Phase 2 will focus on the vaccination of the general public. The beginning of Phase 2 will be influenced by several factors, including the availability of the vaccine, notification by CDC and state authorities that Phase 2 can begin due to sufficient supply, and achievement of targeted metrics for vaccination of high priority Phase 1 groups.

To read the entire COVID-19 vaccination plan draft, click here.