January 15th, 2021 by WCBC Radio
Maryland is moving into Phase 1B of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan, complete with a pilot program that will dramatically increase the number of testing sites in Allegany County. That announcement from Governor Larry Hogan in a late afternoon press conference Thursday. Hogan said the state is entering the most challenging phase of the pandemic, and that getting vaccinated is critical to preventing more illnesses and more deaths. Starting Monday, eligible groups will be expanded statewide to include all Marylanders 75 and older, as well as anyone of any age living in assisted living or independent living facilities and developmental disabilities and behavioral health group homes. Also starting Monday, the state is directing all Maryland hospitals and county health departments to begin using remaining doses by opening Phase 1B clinics focused on the elderly. Hogan said a new program will see the vaccines available at Martin’s and Walmart in the local region…
Regarding the school system, Hogan announced that those now eligible in Phase 1B also include K-12 teachers, education staff and child care providers. For teachers and education staff, the state superintendent has submitted plans for how each county school system will vaccinate its teachers and critical staff. Hogan said Maryland has distributed 547,300 (first and second) doses of vaccines to hospitals, nursing homes and local health departments as of Thursday. This represents 99.6% of all doses allotted by the federal government.
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