HCPSS Buildings To Be Used As Vaccination Sites In Howard County

Columbia MD

28 January, 2021

10:43 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — When Howard County's vaccine supply increases, several Howard County Public School System buildings will be activated as vaccination sites, including Marriott's Ridge, Long Reach, Centennial and Reservoir high schools. Howard County also has allocated more than $300,000 in CARES Act funding to support the installation of MERV 13 air filters in all school facilities. HCPSS also has identified approximately 10,000 employees who are eligible to receive vaccinations and has created four prioritization groups, according to county officials. Prioritization group one includes more than 100 school nurses who began receiving their vaccinations this week. The school nurses can in turn begin to vaccinate HCPSS employees as supply becomes available. "The school system is pleased to be able to do our part to assist by offering some school facilities as vaccination sites as needed," Michael J. Martirano, HCPSS superintendent, said in a statement. "I am so pleased that last week our school nurses and nursing assistants began receiving their first dose of the vaccine and received training to administer the vaccine to others. I look forward to the prospects of the county continuing to receive more vaccination doses so that our educators and staff can be vaccinated soon." This week, Howard County opened its second vaccination clinic at Howard Community College. This new clinic will be vaccinating within all tiers within Phase 1A and 1B. The Howard County Health Department is currently finalizing Phase 1A and moving forward through Phase 1B, which includes those 75 and older, group one within HCPSS prioritization and childcare providers. "The health department is ready to stand up clinics in locations throughout the county when the vaccine becomes more readily available," Maura Rossman, Howard County Health Officer, said in a statement.