Vaccine allocations to local health departments are increasing as state enters Phase 2
Baltimore, MD (KB) More vaccines will be available to Maryland’s local health departments this week. That’s according to Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Jinlene Chan with the Department of Health who said the state is trying to speed up vaccine roll-out.
“We also have always been pushing, including the Governor, for more doses because, you know, we’ve been building up our capacity and we just haven’t had enough doses,” she explained.
Dr. Chan said that federal partners have been able to give all states additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over the past few weeks. She said she expects more allocations as production increases.
“We anticipate that we will be getting, starting to get, more of the Johnson and Johnson. I think that their production has been, of course, ramping up,” Dr. Chan said.
According to the Maryland Department of Health, Frederick County is set to receive 2,000 doses this week.
The state began Phase 2A of it’s vaccine distribution plan on Tuesday, March 23rd.
Dr. Chan said supply could increase if new vaccine manufacturers get approval.
“The signal that we’re hearing from our federal partners from the White House really signal the increase in supply, and if there’s vaccine another approved, AstraZeneca or even Novavax, depending on what the trials show, if they’re approved, then that would absolutely increase available supply here in Maryland,” she said.