COVID-19 Vaccinations Underway in Wicomico County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Johnson
(410) 219-3947 (Office)
(410) 251-5379 (Cell)
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS UNDERWAY IN WICOMICO COUNTY
(December 31, 2020, Salisbury, MD) On December 18th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Moderna COVD-19 vaccine under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), allowing the vaccine to be used in the fight against COVID-19. This vaccine is administered in two doses 28 days apart.
The week of December 21st, the Wicomico County Health Department (WiCHD) received shipments of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and began administering the vaccines according to the State of Maryland’s vaccination plan. The State of Maryland’s COVID-19 vaccination plan outlines how the vaccine will be distributed throughout the state in four phases. Initially, vaccine supply will be limited and this phased plan helps prioritize vaccinations for groups in order of relative risk.
- Phase 1A: Health care workers, first responders, and residents/staff of long-term care facilities
- Phase 1B: People at significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness
- Phase 2: People in critical/essential infrastructure roles and those at a moderately higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness.
- Phase 3: General population
On December 22nd , WiCHD began vaccinating first responders, health department nursing staff and other frontline staff as well as the Incident Command team. Again on December 29th and 31st, WiCHD held drive-thru vaccination clinics for additional health department frontline staff and first responders. During these clinics, WiCHD administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 244 people in the Phase 1A group. The health department also continues to contact health care providers in Wicomico County to plan distribution for those offices as WiCHD received more vaccine supplies.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccines visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov . Information about the vaccine distribution in Maryland and priority phases can be found at www.covidlink.maryland.gov . Want to stay updated on local COVID-19 news? Connect with the health department at www.wicomicohealth.org or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram (WicomicoHealth) or Twitter (@WicomicoHealth).
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