COVID-19 vaccinations roll out in Montgomery County

Over 107,000 Montgomery County residents have received their first vaccine dose and approximately 34,000 residents have been fully vaccinated as of Feb. 17, according to the Montgomery County Vaccine Distribution Dashboard. This translates to 10.2 percent of county residents having received their first dose and 3.2 percent of residents having been fully vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccine is being administered in three phases, each phase having priority groups and within those, priority tiers. These groups are based on risk of exposure and/or developing illnesses. There are currently no vaccines approved for children under the age of 16, though clinical trials are in progress of developing adapted medical solutions.

Montgomery County is now in Phase 1A of the vaccine distribution, which has approximately 60,000 people eligible. This portion of people is composed of three tiers:

Tier 1:

• Hospital personnel
• Long-term care facilities (staff and residents)
• Developmental disability administration group homes
• Assisted living facilities
• Residential rehabilitation programs

Tier 2:

• Workers in Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Vaccinators
• Workers on testing sites
• Public health officials
• Urgent care workers
• Primary care workers

Tier 3:

• Workers in dental practices
• Pharmacists
• Other health care professionals (e.g. optometrists, physical therapists, in home nursing staff)
• Patient-facing, licensed social workers
• Detention center staff
• Homeless shelter staff
• Law enforcement workers
• Fire rescue workers
• 9-1-1 dispatchers
• Behavioral health (non-telehealth) workers
• School nurses
• Lab workers
• Morticians/funeral home staff
• Surgical center workers
• Any other providers approved by the Maryland Department of Health

Montgomery County is slowly transitioning to Phase 1B, where adults age 75 and older are eligible for the vaccine. It is estimated that there are 73,000 residents in this group.

Currently, there are two federally approved vaccines: the Pfizer and the Moderna. Both vaccines are of a limited supply and are two-dose vaccines that must be administered three to four weeks between doses. All vaccinations must be scheduled ahead of time by appointment, as walk-ins are not permitted. 

More information about vaccinations in Montgomery County can be viewed at the Montgomery County Government COVID-19 Information Portal.