HoCo Residents Encouraged To Get Second COVID-19 Dose

Columbia MD

14 May, 2021

3:21 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — As of this week, more than three-fourths of Howard County residents have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 58.3 percent of those age 16 and older are fully vaccinated. However, a considerable amount of residents have not followed up and gotten their second dose, officials noted at a press conference. The county also will open up outdoor entertainment, sports venues, indoor entertainment and all indoor and outdoor dining to 100 percent capacity, although residents must still wear masks in public indoor settings. "As we've learned during the past year – this pandemic forces us to adapt and shift our strategy, and we've done just that to reach this vaccine milestone," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a news conference. "We've removed many barriers to access, bringing the vaccine to trusted sources like faith organizations, community centers, and even local restaurants to ensure our residents have the opportunity to get vaccinated. With these clinics, we've made progress on equitable vaccine distribution – reaching many residents who might have been hesitant or needed support from their close-knit community to get their shot. Moving forward we're refocusing our efforts on young people, many who are planning to get vaccinated, but there hasn't been a convenient time or location. Our small community clinics are targeted to sites that are easy to pop in for people out running errands or going to a restaurant, we're bringing the vaccine to you." Upcoming clinics Howard County is planning clinics in the coming month at many organizations and businesses throughout the county including Jailbreak Brewing Company, Howard County Recreation & Parks Headquarters, Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department, Elkridge 50+ Center, Ducketts Lane Elementary School, Grassroots Day Resource Center, Good Life Custom Cleaning, St. John Baptist Church, Washington Blvd. Marketplace and Hampton Inn and Suites Columbia. These clinics are administering Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson single shot vaccine. For a full list of upcoming pop-up clinics, please visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov. Currently, approximately 2.5 percent or an estimated 5,000 of Howard County residents are overdue for their second vaccine dose. If residents need a second dose appointment, they are instructed to email the Howard County Health Department at [email protected]. Walk-up vaccine also is available for those who previously missed their second dose appointment. 12- 15-Year-Old vaccinations With the Pfizer vaccine approved this week for 12 to 15-year-olds, additional clinics will be added for this age group at vaccine.howardcountymd.gov. Residents may also make appointments or walk up to the mass vaccination site at the Mall in Columbia, which is mostly administering the Pfizer vaccine (12+). Visit covidvax.maryland.gov to make an appointment or call 1-855-634-6829. "Utilizing a multi-pronged approach to vaccination has led to an evolution in clinic offerings, the utilization of community partnerships and the funding of community organizations in an effort to vaccinate as many in our county as possible," Dr. Maura Rossman, Howard County Health Officer, said at the news conference. "We now look forward to reaching and vaccinating the remainder of our population wherever they are, with the hopes of returning to life with family events, neighborhood get-togethers and other activities we've missed for 15 months." Equity dataHoward County has also made progress across race demographics: 51% of white residents received a first dose (53% of population)18% of Asian American residents received a first dose (18% of population)16% of African American residents received a first dose (18% of population)5% of Hispanic residents of full population received a first dose (7% of population) A breakdown of race and age data shows that the largest gaps among demographics who have received the vaccine is with residents under the age of 49. Among ages 50 and over, the uptake for the vaccine has been about the same for white, African-American, Asian-American and Hispanic residents.