Frustrated County Leaders Push For Mass Vaccination Site

ROCKVILLE, MD — As COVID-19 continues to spread, Montgomery County leaders have renewed their calls for a local mass vaccination site.

"A lot of us are troubled that the most populous county in the state, with the (second-highest) number of cases, does not have a mass vaccination site," County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said Wednesday.

To date, Maryland has opened two mass vaccination sites — one at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, and the other at the Baltimore Convention Center. A third site will open at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday, followed by another at Waldorf's Regency Furniture Stadium next month.

Six Flags in Bowie — which administers about 2,000 shots per day — is meant to serve as a bi-county site for Prince George's and Montgomery residents. But Elrich says the venue isn't around the corner for most Montgomery Countians, and the distance creates equity issues.

"While county residents have taken up a lot of appointments at that site, it's far and away removed from most of Montgomery County," he said. "For people who don't have a car — they're just flat out of luck."

Both jurisdictions have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Montgomery County continues to have the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in the state, while Prince George's County holds the title of most confirmed cases.

As of Wednesday, Montgomery County has recorded a total of 62,767 cases and 1,354 deaths. The cumulative totals in Prince George's County are 72,609 infections and 1,285 fatalities.

All 24 jurisdictions in Maryland get their vaccine supply from the state. And the state gets its supply from the federal government. At this time, the federal government is giving Maryland about 84,000 doses per week.

Montgomery County's health department receives a weekly allotment of about 6,000 shots.

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said the state is open to having a site in the county, but doesn't possess enough doses to supply it.

"Montgomery County has the largest population. It has the most vaccines. It has the most distribution points. And it has the highest percentage of people being vaccinated," Hogan said. "So it's not as big of a problem as some of the other areas, but certainly not something we would rule out if we get enough vaccines."

He also said the state is primarily focused on finding sites that can promote equitable access to vaccines by reaching underserved communities and vulnerable populations.

Montgomery County leaders have already offered up at least three locations as potential sites — including the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg.

Their efforts were a topic of discussion at Tuesday's county council meeting, which took place hours before Hogan's press conference.

"It is absurd that from a public health standpoint, we, as the largest jurisdiction in the (state), with the largest percentage of seniors, with the second-largest percentage of minorities, have not even had a conversation about the development of a mass vaccination site here in Montgomery County," said Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz. "We are ready, Gov. Hogan, to be able to stand up a mass vaccination site and have the capacity."

He added that there "continues to be an impression" that Montgomery County does not need as much help as other jurisdictions.

"We are fortunate on a number of different levels. But for goodness sakes, we certainly have that need here," he said.