Johns Hopkins Helps MoCo Vaccinate MCPS Staff, Eligible Residents

BETHESDA, MD — Johns Hopkins Medicine is teaming up with Montgomery County officials to start vaccinating eligible residents and MCPS staff this week.

The partnership is part of a larger effort to prepare for the reopening of public schools.

"We are excited about this partnership because working together, we can have a more effective vaccination strategy," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "With the vaccine in such limited supply, we need to work together to reach as many of the eligible populations as quickly as possible."

The state of Maryland has given Johns Hopkins 8,775 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine — which county officials say will be used to vaccinate residents who are older than 65 and have received care from Johns Hopkins providers. The vaccines will also be given to MCPS employees.

Eligible MCPS employees will be identified by the school system and referred to Johns Hopkins for appointment scheduling, according to officials.

People who meet the criteria will receive an email from Johns Hopkins once an appointment is available.

"MCPS is grateful for this collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and Johns Hopkins Medicine that will provide all MCPS employees with access to the COVID-19 vaccine," said Superintendent Jack Smith. "Providing access to the vaccine to our employees is a crucial step toward a return to a level of normalcy for all of us and a return to in-person instruction."

Montgomery County is currently vaccinating people in Phase 1A (i.e., assisted living facility residents and staff, hospital personnel) and adults age 75 and older.

People in priority groups 1B and 1C can preregister for an appointment through the county's health department.

Visit the county's COVID-19 vaccine page for a more detailed description of priority groups.