ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said a COVID-19 vaccine could be available in Maryland as early as next week. However, he cautioned residents that tough times still lie ahead. “It’s often said that it’s always darkest before dawn. We do remain in a better position in other states. It is clear, our worst days in this pandemic are yet ahead.”
Hogan said he was proud of the role Maryland has played in developing the vaccine. He announced that to make distribution of the vaccine easier, all doctors, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists will be allowed to administer the vaccine as long as they have proper training.
The governor and Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford will both be vaccinated publicly and then lead what Hogan called an ‘aggressive’ campaign to encourage Marylanders to follow suit.
Though a vaccine could be available to some Marylanders as early as next week, Hogan said current numbers are grim. He cited 35 straight days with more than 1,000 cases in the state. “The United states is losing 1 person to COVID every 30 seconds. Today for the first time since May 22, we’ve reported more than 50 deaths in a single day.”
Dr. Jinlene Chan, Acting Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services and Bryan I. Mroz, Assistant Secretary & Chief Medical Officer of the Maryland Department of Health joined Hogan to lay out plans for the distribution of vaccines.
Maryland is expected to receive 155,000 initial doses of vaccine. Healthcare personnel, first responders, and residents of assisted living and nursing facilities will be at the front of the line to be vaccinated.
Hogan said, “The cavalry is coming. A vaccine is on the way. It is absolutely critical we continue to fight this virus with everything we’ve got.”