Baltimore County Officials Lay Out This Week's COVID-19 Vaccine Doses, 7 Clinics Set Up For Healthcare Workers, First Responders
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) — Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch laid out how the county's COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts will move forward this week as they received more doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine.
The county has received 6,825 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week and received 3,400 of the Moderna vaccine last week. So far, 2,000 of those doses have been administered this week and they are set to administer another 1,000 later Thursday.
They have scheduled seven clinics to administer vaccines next week and they will be administering 1,000 doses to healthcare workers and first responders. Olszewski said as they receive allocations each week the county will continue to schedule clinics so those eligible can make an appointment.
"We will ensure that there will be no vaccine that goes to waste," he said.
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He added in the meantime, residents should continue to be vigilant as they hope and expect this to be the final stretch of the pandemic.
"The personal decisions we make matter now more than ever before, they are still a matter of life and death," Olszewski said.
He reminded people to continue to practice social distancing and wear a mask.
Dr. Branch said they do not know how many staff are in doctor's offices, but they are assuming that within the next couple of weeks they will be able to move onto the next phase. However, he said, they will not be able to move on unilaterally.
"When they tell us to move, we will be ready to move," he said.
Dr. Branch said they have received two different types of vaccines, and stressed the importance of the county being careful when administering these vaccines.
"What I do not want to do, is, if I can prevent it, is to have multiple vaccines at the same clinic," he said. "Also, I do not want to open our clinics until I actually have the vaccine."
Both the county health officer and County Executive Olszewski said they have not been vaccinated yet, but do plan to get it when it is appropriate for them to do so.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.