A vaccination site at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Baltimore County. Via Office of Gov. Larry Hogan’s Flickr.
The state has approved a COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Montgomery College Germantown, County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Dr. Earl Stoddard announced during a council session Tuesday.
“The positive news is really that the state has given us the go-ahead and they will be actively supporting us with real logistical support to get this site up and running,” Stoddard said.
“And they are going to sort of recognize it as a partnership site with the state as we build that out.” This site will be slightly different from other “truly state-run” mass vaccination sites in Maryland because it is a partnership between the state, county, Montgomery College and Holy Cross Health.
Stoddard said he hopes the site will be operating in coming weeks. On Saturday, county departments, Holy Cross, the state health department and the Maryland National Guard conducted a site visit to the Germantown campus. Councilmember Craig Rice also joined. There will be additional site visits, Stoddard said, and the county Department of General Services has two visits planned Tuesday to look at building ramps for those with disabilities, power management and other aspects to building out the site. The county also met with the state Tuesday to discuss use of the state’s mass vaccination site scheduling program.
Stoddard clarified that the county will continue operating its other vaccination access points, such as community clinics. “This won’t be the only vaccination opportunity in the county, but will be likely the largest opportunity for mass vaccination in the county,” he said.
During Tuesday’s council meeting, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles thanked the state for increasing the county health department’s weekly dose allocation over the next several weeks. Gayles said beginning this week, it has increased from 4,500 to 6,500 doses. Stoddard said the goal is to offer 3,000 doses per day at the mass vaccination site when the state’s allocation is further increased.
“We’re getting more good news than we’re accustomed to this morning. It’s great to be in this position,” Council President Tom Hucker said.
Announced this morning: Montgomery County will have a covid-19 mass vaccination site at Montgomery College Germantown.
It’ll operate a bit differently from other truly state-run mass vax sites because it's a partnership between the state, county, MC and Holy Cross. @mymcmedia
— Maryam Shahzad (@maryam_mcm) March 16, 2021
