January 28, 2021

Message from County Executive Marc Elrich



Dear Friends:

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the No. 1 topic in every conversation—and that is what I want to write about here. I have been receiving a number of questions related to the distribution plans for vaccinations in the County, so I will try to answer many of them.

Does Montgomery County have vaccines lying around?

No! We do not. No vaccines sent to the Montgomery County Health Department are going to waste. And none of our doses are sitting on a shelf. By the end of each week, we have given out all of the first doses that we receive from the State that week.

How many people has the County Health Department vaccinated?

So far, more than 26,000 people have received first doses of vaccines from the County.

How many people in Montgomery County are currently eligible for a vaccine?

More than 200,000 people are currently eligible in the County, which includes Priority Groups 1A (key frontline workers), 1B (which includes residents 75 and older) and 1C (which includes residents 65 and older).

How many vaccines come to Montgomery County each week?

The maximum number of vaccines currently being distributed to the County from the State is about 18,000 to 20,000. That maximum is the total for all entities giving out vaccines, which include hospitals, health services, private pharmacies and the County Health Department.

How many vaccines come to Maryland each week?

About 70,000 vaccines currently are being sent to Maryland each week—and those must be divided among the 23 counties and the City of Baltimore. By State direction, more than 1.5 million people are currently eligible for those doses.

Are there more people eligible for a vaccine than doses available?

Yes! Demand far exceeds supply.

Didn’t the State say that everyone in Phase 1 is eligible for a vaccine?

Yes, but ELIGIBLE is the key word. Everyone in Phase 1 can preregister HERE.

Why can’t I get a vaccine appointment?

The demand for vaccines is much greater than the supply. In Montgomery County alone, more than 200,000 people are currently eligible for a vaccine. There is a maximum of about 18,000 to 20,000 vaccines available each week for those 200,000 people. That maximum is the total for all resources giving out vaccines—hospitals, health services, private pharmacies and the County Health Department.

Should I preregister even if vaccines may not be available right now?

Yes. If you are in a Priority Group in Phase 1, you should preregister.

Once I preregister, how soon will I get the information for a vaccination appointment?

It could be weeks or longer before you get an appointment. There are many more people who need and want the vaccine than there are doses available. While all people in Phase 1 are eligible, vaccine supply to our County has not significantly increased. Telling more people that they are eligible did not change the State’s or the County’s supply. What it has done is lead people to believe that we are ready to vaccinate them. We are ready—we just do not have the vaccines to distribute right now.

How are the groups prioritized?

The State has reiterated that it is the County’s responsibility is to finish the 1A group, since the people in that group protect our health and safety and their jobs make them vulnerable to exposure. We cannot afford for them to get sick. After the people in Group 1A, the next priority group of 1B includes people who are 75 and older. The State expects the group of residents 75 and older to be our priority until we have completed that group. And at the rate that the County Health Department has been allocated vaccines, that will be a while. You can find the priority group listing here.

Where will vaccination clinics be?

Some will be at County-sponsored sites and some will be at sites provided by hospitals and health care systems. CVS and Walgreens pharmacies are continuing to vaccinate staff and residents at congregate living facilities.

Is there any place else where I can get vaccinated?

If you are eligible in Phase 1, you can also look for a vaccination site on the State’s website. Several of our hospital partners in the County, as well as certain pharmacies, will be administering vaccines to eligible groups. Expect to have to check each of their websites frequently because our partners have very limited vaccine doses and spaces fill quickly. To highlight that point: Giant pharmacies in our County that will distribute vaccines are only receiving enough doses to give 50 vaccines a day. Those slots will not last long.

Why did my neighbor get an appointment from her doctor?

Some doctors are connected to hospitals that have received vaccines. In some cases, those health systems have opened up their clinics for eligible prior patients of the health systems.

If I have preregistered, how will I know when I will get an appointment?

Once you have pre-registered, you have to wait for an email link, which will come from c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov. When you do get it, do not forward it to others.

What if my friends send me a link from the County?

Do not use it. We have had a lot of confusion and frustration with people receiving forwarded links that allowed them to register for an appointment when they were not yet eligible. You may be wondering in this day and age, why is that still possible? Couldn’t they design a system where the link could not be forwarded and have avoided this whole problem?

Theoretically: Yes. But the State used an existing system that has worked well for flu vaccines, which are quite plentiful and easy to distribute. The system was not designed for this high-demand, low-supply vaccine, nor was it designed to accommodate prioritization of the order in which people get the vaccines.

I had a great conversation with Governor Hogan earlier this week and we discussed this problem. As a result, his staff is working with our staff to address this. They have already made some improvements and are working on more. This is not just a Montgomery County problem: scheduling overload is burdening all of the County Executives that I spoke with yesterday.

I very much appreciate the Governor’s responsiveness, but even with this cooperation, these problems cannot be fixed by us and they cannot be fixed overnight. People may be able to get appointments from a forwarded link and then their appointment will be cancelled if they are not supposed to have an appointment. That leads to confusion and frustration, so do not forward a link and please do not use a link that was forwarded to you.

What about staff for Montgomery County Public Schools?

In an effort to help toward providing some in-person instruction this spring, our hospital partners are going to offer vaccines to certain education staff as identified by the school administration. Again, it will be limited supplies.

Why do our hospitals sometimes get more vaccines than the County Health Department?

It is likely because of the type of vaccine. The health care system gets the Pfizer vaccines, which must be stored at extremely cold temperatures of between 112 and 76 degrees below freezing. The County does not have storage capability for those vaccines and we were told at the beginning not to purchase storage for those vaccines. The County Health Department receives Moderna vaccines that are easier to store. This difference in storage temperatures impacts where the doses are sent and who distributes them.

What about second doses?

Both types of vaccines currently available require a second dose. So even if supply increases, many of those doses will have to be used as second doses.

What is next?

Please be patient. The lack of supply is a problem in the State, in the country and around the world. I am hopeful that it will improve in the coming weeks and months, and I hope you understand that we are doing our part to get the vaccines to you as fast as possible.

In closing, I want to acknowledge that this week we lost our fourth County employee to COVID-19, Blanca Kling. I knew her for many years and especially remember her work with the community after the explosion at the Piney Branch apartments. She was deeply involved in, and committed to, the community. We feel her loss deeply and extend our sincere condolences to all of her family, friends and co-workers.

Blanca’s death is a grim reminder that COVID-19 is still very much with us. As we await vaccinations, I continue to plead with you to maintain physical distance, wash your hands frequently and wear a mask so that we can slow the spread as much as possible.



Marc Elrich
County Executive


January 27, 2021

County Begins Vaccinating Residents 75 and Older for COVID-19


Montgomery County is now vaccinating residents 75 and older for COVID-19 and will continue providing appointment links to others in Priority Group 1B as vaccine supply allows. However, a national COVID-19 vaccine shortage, and the limited amount of doses the County and the State receive weekly, will result in fewer residents who are preregistered getting an appointment immediately.

To focus the limited vaccine supply on the most vulnerable individuals, County health officials are restricting access to vaccinations to all but those people who follow the official preregistration process. The County Government is aware that appointment links have been forwarded and the State appointment system does not have a filter to prevent sharing a link. The sharing of links has created confusion for residents and is negatively impacting the vaccine distribution process. The County is working with State officials to modify the system to prevent this. Residents should not forward the appointment link to others.

Earlier this week, County Executive Elrich met with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan regarding increasing vaccination doses to Montgomery County. After that meeting, the Governor announced the State hopes to receive more vaccines soon.

When eligible, and based on the vaccine supply, County residents who have preregistered will receive a direct link from c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov to make an appointment. People who have not received a link directly from the County and show up to a County-operated vaccine clinic will not be served unless they are in Priority Group 1A or 75 and older.

Those in tiers within Priority Group 1B, including teachers, childcare workers, essential workers and individuals with developmental disabilities, will be invited to preregister later this week. People in Priority Group 1C, Tier 1 (65-74 years old) also will be invited to preregister later this week.

While the County is now in Phase 1B, tier 1, vaccinating those 75 years and older, County Department of Health and Human Services staff continue to vaccinate residents in Phase 1A, which includes frontline health care workers.

The County also is working with other health care partners, including local hospitals and health care systems, to expand the number of vaccinations available. Some private providers are offering the COVID-19 vaccine as well.

Residents can sign up on the vaccine website for weekly vaccine updates. A Vaccine Dashboard on the site provides updated information on the distribution of vaccines. The information includes the number of vaccines received and the number distributed.

The dashboard also establishes the priority list for people to receive vaccines in Montgomery County.

Priority Group 1 A (Tier 1) recipients include:
  • Hospital personnel
  • *Long Term Care Facilities (staff and residents)
  • *Development Disability Agency group homes
  • *Assisted Living Facilities
  • *Rest and Rehabilitation Facilities
  • *Delivered via pharmacy partnership
Priority Group 1 A (Tier 2) includes populations with frequent exposure to individuals with known COVID-19 and/or providing services essential to the maintenance of public health and healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This group will include:
  • EMS
  • Vaccinators (LHD, school nurse, etc.)
  • Testing sites – testers/onsite registration workers
  • Public Health – COVID-19 response staffs
  • Urgent care staffs
  • Primary care staffs
Priority Group 1A (Tier 3) includes populations with risk of exposure to individuals with suspected COVID-19 and/or providing services essential to the maintenance of public health and health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This group will include:
  • Dental practices
  • Pharmacists
  • Other health care professionals (e.g., outpatient specialties, optometrists, physical therapists, podiatrists, community health workers, in-home nursing staff)
  • Detention Centers staff
  • Homeless shelters staff
  • Law enforcement (patrol/public-facing)
Priority Group 1A (Tier 3) includes:
  • Fire and Rescue workers
  • 911 dispatchers
  • Behavioral health (non-telehealth staffs) – e.g., residential/recovery
  • School nurses (non-vaccine/non-testers)
  • Lab workers
  • Morticians/funeral home staff
  • Surgical centers staff
  • Other providers licensed by Maryland
Priority Group 1B (Tier 1) consists of:
  • Adults age 75 years and older
Additional details on the County’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, including the groups in Priority Groups 1B (Tier 2) and Priority Group 1C, can be found on the COVID-19 vaccine website.

FAQs on COVID-19 in Montgomery County: Vaccines and Other Information


Why is it so difficult to get a vaccine appointment now?

Demand for vaccinations currently outpaces the available supply. When the State of Maryland receives vaccine doses from the Federal government, it distributes some to Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services and other doses to County health departments across Maryland. The County health department has been receiving an average of 6,000 doses weekly.

In addition, vaccines are being distributed to hospitals, other health care systems and certain pharmacies in the County. Eventually, private physicians and retailers will receive vaccine doses, but that has not happened yet. There is information on the State of Maryland’s vaccine website about vaccination options around the County.

How do I find a vaccination site?

The County’s vaccine webpage provides information on vaccinations provided through the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. The webpage also provides links to the other health care entities in the County that are receiving vaccine doses.

The first step to getting a vaccination through the County-operated clinics is to preregister on the vaccine webpage. Currently, residents in Priority Group 1B (all tiers) and Group 1C can preregister on the web page.

Why is the County not following the same priority groups as the State?

Since supplies of vaccines are extremely limited at this time, the State of Maryland has given local counties the flexibility to determine how to move through the priority groups to make vaccines available to the most vulnerable populations in their respective communities. Earlier this week, Montgomery County began vaccinating residents in Priority Group 1B, Tier 1 (residents 75 years and older), while continuing to vaccinate those in Priority Group 1A (frontline health care workers, first responders and public safety). There are approximately 30,000-40,000 County residents in Priority Group 1A and more than 70,000 residents in the first tier of Priority Group 1B. Since vaccine distribution began, the County has received only about 32,000 doses for health department vaccine clinics.

How do I find out what Priority Group I am in?

The County’s vaccine webpage provides information about the priority groups and will help determine your designated group. The priority groups were designed to determine vaccine distribution based on the relative risk of exposure or the chance of developing serious illness if someone gets COVID-19.

What happens once I preregister?

Preregistration does NOT mean you have an appointment.

If you are in Priority Group 1A, 1B or 1C, the County will contact you when doses become available. The County will send you an email or text message with a link for scheduling your appointment and a list of available clinic dates and times. DO NOT SHARE the appointment link with others—it is only for you.

What do I do if I do not have access to a computer?

If you are eligible to preregister and do not have computer access, ask a family member or friend to help you register. You also can call the Preregistration Helpline at 240-777-2982 (open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week) for assistance in preregistering. Staff at the Helpline are not medical personnel so they will not be able to answer specific questions about the vaccine or COVID-19 in general. If you do not have an email address or a phone that can receive text messages, you will be called when it is your turn to make an appointment.

How can I keep updated on everything happening with vaccinations?

Sign up on the County’s vaccine webpage for weekly email or text message updates about the COVID-19 vaccine process and status. The County will use these updates, as well as local media outlets, the County’s website and other communication channels to provide the latest information and answer questions related to COVID-19 vaccinations.

County Executive Elrich Announces Plan to Vaccinate Residents and MCPS Employees with the Help of Johns Hopkins Medicine

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has announced that Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) will begin distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible County residents and Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) employees this week. The initiative is part of an effort to help prepare for the reopening of public schools.

The State of Maryland this week provided JHM with 8,775 doses of the vaccine. The doses will be used to vaccinate County residents who are older than 65 and have received care from JHM providers within the last two years. They also will be used to vaccinate MCPS employees.

MCPS employees eligible for vaccination will be identified by the school system and referred to JHM for appointment scheduling. People who meet the criteria will be contacted via email by JHM when a vaccine appointment is available.

“We are excited about this partnership because, working together, we can have a more effective vaccination strategy,” said County Executive 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.”

Kevin W. Sowers, president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine, said: “Over the last year, we have partnered with local, State and national agencies to develop collaborative pandemic response plans. As we enter this newest vaccination phase in Maryland, we are pleased to answer the call from the State to vaccinate eligible individuals using vaccine doses allocated to residents of Montgomery County.”

MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith said: “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. The vaccine offers a significant level of prevention against acquiring COVID-19 and increases the level of safety for staff and students. 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.”

The County continues to work closely with the State regarding the limited vaccine supply and the great demand. The County is also working with other health care providers, including local hospital and health care systems, to expand the number of vaccinations available.

The long-term goal, dependent on vaccine production and distribution, is for the public to have the opportunity to receive the vaccination in the coming months. Some private providers are offering the COVID-19 vaccine as well. Those hospitals and pharmacies are independent of the County-run vaccine facilities.

Visit the County’s COVID19 vaccine page for a more detailed description of priority groups. Preregistration for the early priority groups is also available on the vaccine website.


COVID-19 Information Portal Has Statistics on How the Virus Has Impacted the County, Including Infections by Zip Codes


Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics are regularly updated to reflect the most recent reports during the health crisis.

Among the information available is how many positive cases have been reported in each zip code in the County. That information can be found at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#cases-zip.

Other breakdowns on the COVID-19 Information Portal include:

Where to Get Tested for COVID-19


There are numerous ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Montgomery County. The County operates dozens of clinics most weeks and rotates the locations to make testing easily accessible for residents in all parts of the County. In addition, there are many privately operated testing programs. 

Testing at County-operated clinics is free, does not require a doctor’s referral and is available by making advance appointments or on a walk-up basis.

There may be a fee at privately operated sites. Residents should check in advance on any possible cost and available times at privately operated sites.

To view the schedule of upcoming County-operated test clinics, and to make an appointment, go to www.MoCoCOVIDtesting.org.

Four Food Distribution Events Scheduled in County for Friday-Saturday, Jan. 29-30


Four food distribution events are scheduled in Montgomery for Friday-Saturday, Jan. 29-30, to help individuals and families who continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis. 

The following events are scheduled:
Families or individuals needing food resources can submit an online request at https://moco.unqork.io/?locale=en#/display/5f723ef6a0834e025412888a. Information also is available by calling 311 (or 240-777-0311) and asking for the Food Access Call Center. Callers will get a return call in the language of their choice within one business day. There is no need to provide any personal information. Information is provided about free food and food delivery, SNAP (food stamps), nearby food providers and other resources in Montgomery County.

Residents in need also can call the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center at 240-777-4940 for information on food and other important needs. Staff who speak many languages are available to answer the phones Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Messages left will be returned within 24 to 48 hours.

High School Students Can Become ‘Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors’ While Helping to Make Roadways Safer; Deadline to Apply is Feb. 5


The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), in partnership with the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), is seeking 20 students in County public and private schools to serve as “Vision Zero Youth Ambassadors.” The program is aiming to encourage youth to have an active role in road safety efforts and improvements. 

Interested students may learn about the program here. They must complete an application by Friday, Feb. 5, if they want to be considered for the program. Ambassadors can earn special prizes and Montgomery County Public Schools students can earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their participation.

The program is part of the County’s Vision Zero initiative, whose goal is to eliminate traffic-related severe injuries and deaths. Youth Ambassadors will play an important role in helping the County work toward the goal by becoming road safety leaders in their communities.

Ambassadors will attend special virtual training on road safety, contribute to developing effective safety campaigns and have public speaking opportunities related to the Vision Zero campaign. The program will have each ambassador create an ambassador safety campaign plan, which they will present to parents and community leaders at a celebration luncheon.

Two virtual trainings for selected ambassadors of three hours each will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, and Saturday, March 20. The trainings will enable participants to:
  • Explain the issues facing youth on roadways.
  • Demonstrate action steps youth can take to stay safe.
  • Showcase essential skills in communications, become involved in campaign development and adapt to leadership positions.
After the initial training sessions, ambassadors will participate in four follow-up sessions via Zoom that will be held on Mondays March 29, April 12, April 26 and May 10. At these sessions, ambassadors will develop and execute a road safety campaign at their school or in their communities and chart the results of their plan.

At a virtual closing event in June, ambassadors will serve as youth keynote speakers, sharing their plans, outcomes and best practices in road safety with attendees and special guests.

Learn more about Vision Zero here and follow @VisionZeroMC for ongoing updates on the Vision Zero effort in Montgomery County.

'Picnic in the Park Warm-up Days' Will Allow Residents to Reserve Heated Spaces for Outdoor Dining or Socializing



Picnic in the Park: Warm-Up Days,” a series of events hosted by Montgomery Parks, will allow residents to reserve a limited number of fire pits and patio heaters for outdoor dining or socializing on selected Saturday afternoon dates in January, February and March.

Montgomery Parks launched its “Picnic in the Park” program last summer in partnership with Visit Montgomery. The goal of the program is to support local restaurants by creating a convenient way for people to have meals delivered to a select group of participating parks.

Picnic in the Park Warm-Up Days are scheduled for: 
  • Jan. 30: Acorn Urban Park (limited availability).
  • Feb. 20 and 27: Germantown Town Center Urban Park.
  • March 20 and 27: Wheaton Local Park. 
Advanced reservations are required. Each event offers two seating times that can be reserved from noon-1:30 p.m. or from 2-3:30 p.m.

Firepits can be reserved for a group of six or fewer for $25. Firewood and kindling are provided, and staff will be on hand to assist with the fire. Tables for two with a patio heater are available to reserve for $10.

Masks are required for all guests when not seated or actively eating and drinking.



Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services Launches ‘Amplify Black Voices’ Program

Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has launched its “Amplify Black Voices” digital marketing campaign that highlights Black-owned wine and spirits brands and Black leaders in the alcohol industry. The campaign will be featured throughout February, which is recognized as Black History Month.

The campaign will feature eight “voices” on the ABS website, a free virtual wine event via Zoom and a 10 percent discount on participating products in ABS’ 26 retail stores. Throughout the month, brand stories, cocktail recipes and wine pairings will be shared with consumers via electronic newsletters and social media channels. Amplify Black Voices will celebrate makers and industry leaders who are breaking barriers and have inspirational stories.

“While this initial program will kick off on Black History Month, we are committed to growing the program and making sure that Black-owned products are interlaced into our marketing strategy year-round,” said ABS Senior Marketing Officer Melissa Davis.

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County. ABS operates 25 beer, wine and spirits stores and one spirits-only store in Poolesville. It manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, ABS profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the County general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.

Construction Completed on Long Branch Library, Allowing ‘Holds to Go’ and Phone Services to Begin

Construction has been completed on the Long Branch Library, allowing Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) to start its “Holds to Go!” and the library phone service to begin this week. The County’s Department of General Services oversaw construction at the library, which is located at 8800 Garland Ave. in Silver Spring.

The library branch closed in March 2020 for interior and exterior improvements under the County’s award-winning Library Refurbishment initiative.

“Congratulations to our General Services and Public Libraries team on their collaborative work on this library refresh project,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our libraries are community anchors and the impressive improvements transform this into a modernized, beautiful facility for our Long Branch residents to enjoy.”

The 21,034-square-foot facility houses approximately 58,000 print volumes and media items. The new ergonomic sit and stand circulation and self-checkout desks present an aesthetically warm and welcoming front area. The interiors of all County libraries are currently closed to the public due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

The refurbishment of Long Branch library included renovation of the public restrooms, construction of a new family restroom on the first floor, creation of new teen and children’s areas, a new group study room and a new sit/stand service desk. New paint, carpet and flooring were installed along with all new furniture and some new shelving. New LED light fixtures were installed and ceiling tiles replaced. The second-floor lobby was activated with a seating group and laptop lane area. Two new dual drinking fountains with bottle filling stations were installed and electricity was extended to most tables and seating groups.

Outside improvements include a new plaza roof with decorative railing, recoating of mid-and high roofs, new stucco finish on the front first level, new storefront entrances on both levels and a new ADA compliant book drop. There were significant interior and exterior accessibility improvements for people with disabilities, including an accessible path of travel to Long Branch Library and to the Long Branch Community Recreation Center. Accessible entrances and exits were installed throughout the building. New concrete block retaining walls were installed with landscaping.

The approximate cost for the Long Branch project was $4 million.

The County Library Capital Grant Program and the Maryland State Library (as authorized by the Maryland General Assembly and supported by the Montgomery County Delegation) partially funded the project.

Transformative Drug Manufacturer On Demand Pharmaceuticals Chooses Rockville for Its New Headquarters

On Demand Pharmaceuticals (ODP), an innovative pharmaceutical manufacturing company, has selected Rockville for its new GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturing, research, development and headquarters facility. The company expects to have up to 75 employees by the end of 2021 and potentially hundreds at the end of five years.

ODP recently signed a $20 million contract with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a domestic production capability for critical active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and medicines using its proprietary Pharmacy on Demand (PoD) technology. PoD is a modular manufacturing machine the size of a small household refrigerator that can be quickly customized to produce pharmaceuticals from key starting materials.

ODP’s on demand manufacturing approach will enable a more resilient domestic medicine production capability and create secure alternatives to KSMs (key starting materials) and APIs currently sourced from offshore manufacturers. PoD’s small-scale, adaptive and distributed manufacturing has the ability to provide an adequate, safe and reliable supply of medicines to communities around the world.

ODP will create a state-of-the-art 44,500-square-foot facility in Rockville. The company selected Montgomery County for its first commercial location over Boston; Princeton, N.J.; and other locations around the country.

“Montgomery County is ideal for government partners who need to be in Washington, D.C., regularly and want to access the experienced talent here,” said Geoffrey Ling, CEO and co-founder of ODP. “Our physical needs were critical as we needed to scale up our operations quickly in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and Montgomery County had a site that worked for our use, a flexible landlord experienced with life sciences and local officials who helped to expedite the move.”

Dr. Ling views ODP’s technology as a crucial breakthrough for healthcare workers in some of the world’s most difficult environments. A key advantage of the PoD system is its flexibility—the same machines can be easily switched to make different medicines and in various formulations. The versatility has the potential to produce low volume drugs, such as those for rare diseases, at the fraction of their current cost.

Dr. Ling developed the ODP concept while serving as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. When Dr. Ling was deployed at a combat hospital in Afghanistan, a wounded American soldier needed a life-saving treatment that was not available onsite. The treatment was flown in from a base in Germany, a time-consuming and costly undertaking. Dr. Ling turned frustration into inspiration when he realized he could have made the drug himself with some simple starting ingredients. His idea came to fruition through work at MIT that was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

"On Demand Pharmaceuticals will feel right at home here in Montgomery County, where they join a wide array of ground-breaking innovators,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our County is the place for diverse and highly capable businesses to nurture ideas and see them come to fruition."

Benjamin H. Wu, president and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, said, “This technology is revolutionary for the pharmaceutical industry in some of the same ways that iconic IT brands designed around the end user have been revolutionary. On Demand’s PoD technology has the potential to produce life-saving medicines within reach of every American while also safeguarding our nation’s security through greater domestic manufacturing production.”

MCEDC connected the company with the City of Rockville for expedited permitting review. MCEDC also connected ODP with Facility Logix, a Montgomery County company that specializes in the design and construction of biotech manufacturing and research and development facilities.

ODP, as a Maryland company, is eligible for State tax credits through the More Jobs for Marylanders and Job Creation Tax Credits programs, as well as a Partnership for Workforce Quality grant.


Text-To-911 Now Available in Maryland

Anyone who is experiencing an emergency in Maryland and is unable to place a voice call to 911 can now send a text message to 911.

Follow these steps to request emergency services via text:
  • Enter 911 in the “To” line.
  • Enter a brief message that includes the location of the emergency and type of service needed – police, fire or ambulance.
  • Hit send.
  • Respond to questions from the responding 911 specialist and follow the instructions they quickly provide.
Tips for using text-to-911:
  • If text-to-911 is not available in your area, or if it is temporarily unavailable, you should receive a message from your carrier letting you know to place a phone or relay call.
  • Pictures and/or videos cannot be received by 911 via text.
  • If you include another contact on your text, it may not be received by 911.
  • English is the preferred language for text. However, some limited translation services may be available.
  • Text in short, simple messages. Do not use abbreviations or slang.
  • Do not text and drive.


County Commission for Women’s 41st Annual Legislative Briefing Topics Include Advocating with Strength for Equality and Justice



The Montgomery County Commission for Women (CFW) will host its 41st Annual Women’s Legislative Briefing (WLB) from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31. The virtual event brings together advocates, allies, policymakers and emerging leaders to empower, engage and mobilize Marylanders around issues affecting women and girls.

This year’s theme, “Beyond 2020: Advocating with Strength for Equality and Justice,” will focus on moving beyond the struggles of 2020 with vigor, determination and empowerment.

The opening session, “Women on the Front Lines,” will include a panel discussion with women who have worked in education, healthcare, business and retail fields throughout the COVID-19 health crisis. The women will share their challenges, struggles and accomplishments while working under extraordinary demands and pressures.

“Women have been hit hard by this pandemic and through it all have made tremendous contributions and have courageously served on the frontlines,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The CFW Legislative Briefing is an opportunity to recognize their valiant work, reflect on everything that happened in 2020 and then develop an attainable plan to remove threats to equitable rights, responsibilities and opportunities for everyone.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of breakout sessions addressing topics such as economic and social justice, safety and security, healthcare and education. Participants will hear from members of the Maryland General Assembly, community leaders who influence policymaking and representatives of organizations that advance the status of women and girls such as the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, the Job Opportunities Task Force and EveryMind.

Middle and high school students are encouraged to participate in the forum and attend the WLB Emerging Leaders sessions, which are interactive workshops that focus on civic engagement and pathways to leadership.

The regional event is the longest-standing women’s legislative event in Maryland.

Registration is available on the event registration website. For more information call 240-777-8300 or visit the CFW website. Follow the event using the hashtag #MoCoWLB via Twitter and Facebook.


2020 Was a Year like No Other, but New Video Shows How County Continued to Made Strides in Protecting the Environment and Helping Residents Reduce Energy Use

 

The year 2020 was a challenging one in many regards, but the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) continued to make progress in protecting the County’s resources and helping residents reduce their energy use.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis, DEP was able to continue protecting County watersheds, reduce litter and waste and encourage ways for residents to reduce energy usage and lower their energy bills. DEP has made a video documenting its work in 2020 and it can now be viewed at https://youtu.be/xKZDV5vD-6w.
 
In 2020, DEP further encouraged residents to reduce plastic waste and increase food scrap recycling. DEP's Tree Montgomery Program doubled in 2020, with 1,600 trees planted. Applications for its RainScapes programs, which assists homeowners and neighborhoods in treating stormwater locally, doubled with a record number of rewards and rebates.

During the past year, DEP unveiled a new Equity Assessment Map to ensure equity is factored in project selection and implementation.

More information about DEP is available at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep/.

January 21, 2021

Message from County Executive Marc Elrich


Dear Friends,

Our new President and Vice President were sworn into office on Wednesday. They arrive at a time of great challenges and great possibilities. I am hopeful that, with their leadership and everyone’s hard work, we will get more help for the many businesses, individuals and localities that are struggling. I also hope that we will have a national plan for distribution of COVID-19 vaccines that gets as many people vaccinated as possible—and quickly.

Here in Montgomery County, I want to update you on where we are with vaccines and try to provide some clarity to what is confusing and raising concern for some.

Everything we are doing is focused on being fair, equitable AND efficient.

We are being efficient in the respect that the County does not have unused doses lying around. Each week, we administer 100 percent of the doses we receive.

How do the doses get distributed? The states receive vaccines and do the distribution. The amounts and distribution vary state to state (and the District of Columbia gets its own distribution). 

The entire State of Maryland only receives about 72,000 doses per week.

Montgomery County is generally told by the State on the weekend how many doses we will receive on Tuesday of each week. This week, we were told on Monday how many doses we would receive on Tuesday. I hope you understand the difficulty of advance planning with such little notice.

The State does not give information on what to expect for the following week. It is our understanding that, at least over the next few weeks, the State will continue to receive about 72,000 doses per week. That is the total for all the hospitals, nursing homes and counties.

This week, we received 11,900 doses in total. However, the State designated 4,600 as second doses for individuals who have already received their first doses. That means we have 7,300 doses for new vaccinations, as you can see below.

Total doses received

Doses for second dose

Doses remaining

11,900

4,600

7,300


We all agree that 7,300 is a small number of people getting vaccinated.

As of today—based on Governor Larry Hogan’s announcements—more than 110,000 people in Montgomery County are eligible for the vaccine. Beginning on Monday, more than 200,000 people will be eligible as the State enters Phase Priority 1C, which includes residents 65 and older.

This is a supply and demand issue. The demand for the vaccine far outweighs the supply available.

While the number of people who are immediately eligible has increased dramatically, vaccine supply has not changed. If our allocation continues at current levels, we can only vaccinate about 7,000 new people each week (and in coming weeks, more people will begin to need second doses).

So, what are we doing about this situation?

We all know we cannot affect the manufacturing of the vaccines, so we are following the Federal Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines on how to prioritize who gets the vaccine first.

As the CDC explains, these priorities were created in order to:
  • Decrease death and serious disease as much as possible.
  • Preserve the function of society.
  • Reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.
With that in mind, the CDC created Phases 1A, 1B and 1C (as well as Phases 2 and 3). You can read about them here.

Priority Group 1A includes the people at greatest risk of exposure because of the work they do or where they live.

This includes emergency responders, law enforcement, health providers and behavioral health staff. It also includes hospital staff and staff and residents in nursing homes. We are finishing giving first vaccines to this group now.

The doses for the hospitals and nursing homes are not sent to the County. Those doses are distributed directly to those entities.

We have also begun the preregistration process for people in Group 1B, including seniors 75 and older. We expect this group to begin receiving doses next week. But remember: we are likely to have 7,000 doses next week for more than 70,000 eligible people.

You may have heard about some people being able to register and get appointments for vaccines. You may have also heard about others who registered and showed up for what they thought was an appointment, but found out they did not have valid appointments to receive vaccines. I would like to explain why.

To register for a vaccine appointment, people must use the State registration system, which also is important for tracking who receives the doses. That system was not designed with a filter, so if someone forwards a link that was only intended for them, others can use the link. And that creates confusion and frustration. People sign up for spots that were not intended for them and others are turned away from what they think was their rightful appointment. And others who were in line to get an appointment cannot get one. Please do not use a link that is forwarded to you.


That is why we have a County preregistration system. We will be contacting people and sending them the link to register and get the vaccine.

You may be wondering: If you have preregistered, when will you be contacted for an appointment? We do not know.

We only find out each week how many doses we will have—and there are not nearly enough.

And, remember, every week we will have to use some doses that we receive for people who need the second dose.

I hope this gives you some sense of the process. I know some people are frustrated and impatient, but I hope that I have conveyed that we are getting out our vaccines as fast as we receive them—and we are doing it in a way that is as efficient as possible.

In the meantime, I want to remind people that our new daily case count is still very high. You can see that in the graph below. You can also see this graph at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/.

Following the guidelines continues to be very important. Maintain physical distance, wash your hands frequently and please continue to #MaskupMoCo



The Governor held a press conference today and called on all Maryland school systems to return to in-person or hybrid instruction by March 1. We all want our children back in school as quickly as possible, but we cannot simply pick an arbitrary date without metrics, vaccination quantities and plans to reach our education staff. As much as I hope that the virus is more contained by the first week of March than it is right now, there is no evidence that we can count on that—particularly with the limited number of vaccines available (which, to be clear, is not the Governor’s fault).

I am a former teacher and fully understand the importance of in-person learning. In this moment, we still have very high cases—and the existing guidelines have not changed. Dr. Anthony Fauci has talked about the importance of reducing community transmission as part of the path to schools reopening. Currently, our rate is quite high, as you can see from the above chart. The Governor, in making the case for reopening schools, stated that children are not a major source of transmission, but because so many children are asymptomatic, it is difficult to trace cases back to them. Phasing and a hybrid model of returning to in-person learning that were proposed by the Governor make sense for reopening, but reopening must proceed with metrics, planning and a focus on vaccinations for at-risk adults. Montgomery County Public Schools has a large number of staff in high-risk categories.

The Biden Administration will be issuing new guidelines that should be useful in determining how to move forward safely (unlike the Trump Administration, whose guidelines seemed to change based on trying to justify that the high number of COVID cases across the country did not violate the guidelines). Our public health staff will continue to consult with the Board of Education, which will make the decisions about reopening. With a limited supply of vaccine and ongoing high rates of transmission, decisions must be based on science to protect our education staff, students and their families.

Thank you for your ongoing understanding.




Marc Elrich
County Executive

January 20, 2021

County Prepares to Move to Phase 1B COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule, But More Vaccines Needed to Meet Demand; Those 75 and Older Can Preregister


Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has announced that the State has moved into Phase 1B of distributing COVID-19 vaccines. Phase 1B includes people age 75 and older. However, the Montgomery County Government has not yet received enough vaccine from the Maryland Department of Health to meet the demand of those in Priority Group 1A who are seeking the vaccines. The County is prepared to distribute more vaccines—it just cannot control how many doses it receives each week. 

The County will begin vaccinating those in Priority Group 1B as soon as it can, while continuing to vaccinate those in Priority Group 1A.  

The County Department of Health and Human Services is planning Coronavirus vaccine clinics for residents 75 years and older. Individuals must be residents of Montgomery County and be 75 years or older.

Residents 75 and older can pre-register to receive vaccines when they are available by going to https://tinyurl.com/yyjjrb8f.

The County is has taken swift steps to administer the vaccines it has received—proceeding at one of the highest rates of vaccine administration in Maryland. State statistics through Tuesday, Jan. 19, show that Montgomery County Government’s health department had administered 93.9 percent of the vaccines it had received through that time (18,694 of the 19,900 vaccines it had received).

Including vaccines that have been directly delivered to health services/hospitals in the County (which are not included in the statistics for doses delivered directly to the County for distribution), Maryland statistics, through Jan. 20, estimate 35,228 individuals in the County had received a first dose of the vaccine and 3,926 individuals have received a second dose

The County will not wait until everyone in a specific group is vaccinated before moving to the next group, but it is aiming to get maximum uptake of vaccinations by each group. “Herd immunity” is accomplished when at least 80 percent of those eligible to be vaccinated are given shots (both doses).

Vaccinations are by appointment only. The County will provide a link to the appointment system when it moves to the next priority groups.

The County is following CDC and Maryland Department of Health guidance.

The County has established a Vaccine Dashboard to provide updated information on the distribution of vaccines. The information includes the number of vaccines received and the number distributed.

The dashboard also establishes the priority list for the order of people to receive vaccines in Montgomery County.

Priority Group 1 A (Tier 1) recipients will include:
  • *Hospital personnel
  • *Long Term Care Facilities (staff and residents)
  • *Development Disability Agency group homes
  • *Assisted Living Facilities
  • *Rest & Rehabilitation Facilities
  • *Delivered via pharmacy partnership
Priority Group 1 A (Tier 2) will include populations with frequent exposure to individuals with known COVID-19 and/or providing services essential to the maintenance of public health and healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This group will include:
  • EMS
  • Vaccinators (LHD, school nurse, etc.)
  • Testing sites – testers/onsite registration
  • Public Health – COVID response
  • Urgent care
  • Primary care
Priority Group 1A (Tier 3) will include populations with risk of exposure to individuals with suspected COVID-19 and/or providing services essential to the maintenance of public health and health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This group will include:
  • Dental practices
  • Pharmacists
  • Other health care professionals (e.g., outpatient specialties, optometrists, physical therapists, podiatrists, community health workers, in-home nursing staff)
  • Detention Centers staff
  • Homeless shelters staff
  • Law enforcement (patrol/public-facing)
Priority Group 1A (Tier 3) will include:
  • Fire rescue 
  • 9-1-1 dispatchers
  • Behavioral health (non-telehealth) – e.g., residential/recovery
  • School nurses (non-vaccine/non-testers)
  • Lab workers
  • Morticians/funeral home staff
  • Surgical centers
  • Other providers licensed by Maryland
Priority Group 1B (Tier 1) consists of:
  • Adults age 75 years and older
Additional details on the County’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, including the groups in Priority Groups 1B (Tier 2) and Priority Group 1C, can be found on the website

COVID-19 Information Portal Has Statistics on How the Virus Has Impacted the County, Including Infections by Zip Codes



Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Information Portal provides a variety of breakdowns on how the virus has impacted the County. The statistics are regularly updated to reflect the most recent reports during the health crisis.

Among the information available is how many positive cases have been reported in each zip code in the County. That information can be found at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/case-counts.html#cases-zip.

Other breakdowns on the COVID-19 Information Portal include:

Where to Get Tested for COVID-19


There are numerous ways to get tested for COVID-19 in Montgomery County. The County operates dozens of clinics most weeks and rotates the locations to make testing easily accessible for residents in all parts of the County. In addition, there are many privately operated testing programs. 

Testing at County-operated clinics is free, does not require a doctor’s referral and is available by making advance appointments or on a walk-up basis.

There may be a fee at privately operated sites. Residents should check in advance on any possible cost and available times at privately operated sites.

To view the schedule of upcoming County-operated test clinics, and to make an appointment, go to www.MoCoCOVIDtesting.org.

County Public Libraries to Have New Branch Hours Beginning Sunday, Jan. 24


Montgomery County Public Libraries will temporarily reduce their hours of service to 48 hours weekly beginning Sunday, Jan. 24. There will no longer be service on Sundays. All branches will be open eight hours on other days.

The branches will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Noyes Library will remain closed.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately requires us to make this decision,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “I hope that we will be able to begin to restore our operating hours as the situation improves over the course of the year.”

MCPL’s contactless holds pickup service “Holds to Go!” will operate during the new hours. The hours adjustments will make it possible to continue Holds to Go! at all branches.

Virtual services can take place outside of the new branch hours. Digital services will continue to be available 24/7.

For more information about MCPL services, visit the website.

County Health Officer Travis Gayles to Discuss Deeper Aspects of COVID-19 as The Featured Guest on Montgomery College ‘Presidential Dialogue Series’ on Thursday, Jan. 28




Montgomery County Health Officer Travis Gayles, who has been at the forefront of the County’s response to the COVID-19 health crisis, will be the featured guest at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, on the next episode of the Montgomery College video “Presidential Dialogue Series.” He will discuss the County’s actions during the health crisis with Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard. 

The event will be streamed here: http://bit.ly/mc-presidential-dialogue-ce. Viewers can submit questions that may be asked during the broadcast by emailing them by Monday, Jan. 25, to presidentialdialogue@montgomerycollege.edu

Dr. Gayles has been delivering urgent messages to the community about transmission, treatment and vaccinations since the health crisis started in March 2020. 

The pandemic has drawn renewed attention to health disparities in the nation. While African Americans are only 30 percent of the population of Maryland, they make up 50 percent of COVID fatalities.

Vulnerability to infectious diseases often correlates with social variables such as income inequality, access to affordable health care, housing and transportation. COVID-19 has demonstrated how race and immigration impact disease transmission, progression and outcomes.

Dr. Gayles, a medical doctor who also holds a Ph.D. in Community Health, will address how the County has made decisions about health protocols, communicating them to diverse communities and strategizing about how support for basic needs will mitigate infections.

This year’s Presidential Dialogue Series focuses on how to build racial justice in a multicultural society.

Previous guests on the Presidential Dialogue Series have included Congressman David Trone, Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones, University of Maryland-Baltimore County President Freeman A. Hrabowski III, former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, political consultant Neera Tanden and authors Elaine Weiss and Elsa Barkley Brown.

County Commission for Women’s 41st Annual Legislative Briefing Topics Include Advocating with Strength for Equality and Justice

The Montgomery County Commission for Women (CFW) will host its 41st Annual Women’s Legislative Briefing (WLB) from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31. The virtual event brings together advocates, allies, policymakers and emerging leaders to empower, engage and mobilize Marylanders around issues affecting women and girls.

This year’s theme, “Beyond 2020: Advocating with Strength for Equality and Justice,” will focus on moving beyond the struggles of 2020 with vigor, determination and empowerment.

The opening session, “Women on the Front Lines,” will include a panel discussion with women who have worked in education, healthcare, business and retail fields throughout the COVID-19 health crisis. The women will share their challenges, struggles and accomplishments while working under extraordinary demands and pressures.

“Women have been hit hard by this pandemic and through it all have made tremendous contributions and have courageously served on the frontlines,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The CFW Legislative Briefing is an opportunity to recognize their valiant work, reflect on everything that happened in 2020 and then develop an attainable plan to remove threats to equitable rights, responsibilities and opportunities for everyone.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of breakout sessions addressing topics such as economic and social justice, safety and security, healthcare and education. Participants will hear from members of the Maryland General Assembly, community leaders who influence policymaking and representatives of organizations that advance the status of women and girls such as the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, the Job Opportunities Task Force and EveryMind.

Middle and high school students are encouraged to participate in the forum and attend the WLB Emerging Leaders sessions, which are interactive workshops that focus on civic engagement and pathways to leadership.

The regional event is the longest-standing women’s legislative event in Maryland.

Registration is available on the event registration website. For more information call 240-777-8300 or visit the CFW website. Follow the event using the hashtag #MoCoWLB via Twitter and Facebook.

Public Libraries to Offer Free Conflict Resolution Programs

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), in partnership with the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, will be offering the free Peace by Peace Series—four workshops that explore what conflict means and how and why individuals react in different ways to conflict. The programs offer tips and techniques on developing methods to communicate with a partner, friend, family member, acquaintance or co-worker. Workshops are geared toward specific situations and age groups.

“During these stressful times, communication can be challenging,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “MCPL is so delighted to be able to offer these timely workshops offering residents helpful techniques to effectively engage in conversations with individuals with opposing views while maintaining positive relationships.”

The Peace by Peace Series free workshops schedule:
All workshops are offered virtually. Registration is required for each. For more information, email Clotilde Puértolas at clotilde.puertolas@montgomerycountymd.gov

‘What’s Happening MoCo’ Podcast Helps Residents Learn More About Montgomery County, Featuring Guests Such as Jazz Great Marcus Johnson

Montgomery County residents can learn more about the programs, events and people in their County through the podcast “What’s Happening MoCo.” In past episodes, the podcast, which is hosted by Derrick Kenny, has addressed important subjects while introducing residents to County government leaders, employees and resources. The featured guest on the latest episode is Marcus Johnson, a former member of the Blair High School jazz band who has gone on to become an internationally known jazz artist, producer and author.

Jerome Fletcher, an assistant chief administrative officer for Montgomery County, also joined the podcast to share an update on business and community resources.

New podcasts are released twice a month. The live stream of the newest episode can be viewed starting at 3:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Jan. 21, via the What’s Happening MoCo Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WhatsHappeningMoCoPodcast.

The podcast also can be heard via several popular podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts at https://bit.ly/whats-happening-moco, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio and others.

Johnson’s music has hit the Billboard Top 10, he has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award and he founded FLO Brands.

He also is the author of “For the Love of . . . Living the Journey of Life with Intention, Love, Passion and Happiness.” The book is a collection of essays that contain personal advice from the musician and entrepreneur who has managed to stay afloat in cutthroat industries, achieving success despite venturing into the saturated markets of live and recorded music and wine and spirits. On the podcast, he talks about his “DEEPER” approach to managing change and striving for success.

About two dozen episodes of What’s Happening MoCo have been produced. Previous podcasts have included County Director of Procurement Ash Shetty talking about how vendors can work to obtain County Government contracts; Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein sharing safety tips for families, Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Connection addressing how uninsured residents can get health insurance; and Mary Beth Dugan of the Access Office of Montgomery Parks discussing programs for active seniors.

Host Kenny, an audio-visual specialist with the County’s Office of Broadband Programs, said the podcast was originated to raise awareness of County Government programs and the range of subjects has evolved.

Residents interested in asking a question or suggesting a topic to be addressed in a future episode are encouraged to engage via the Facebook page or via e-mail at derrick.kenny@montgomerycountymd.gov.

What’s Happening MoCo podcast episode archives can be accessed by visiting the podcast’s webpage at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/CCM/whats-happening-moco-podcast.html.


Funding Available to Help Cover the Cost of Renting County Facilities for Youth Sports that Primarily Service Low-Income Youth

Montgomery County has allocated funding to help cover the cost of facility fee rentals for youth sports programs that primarily serve vulnerable and/or low-income youth. The program will administer the funds through the Facility Fee Assistance Program.

The County’s Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) interagency coordinating board’s programs must be free to participants or charge only a nominal fee to qualify for the program.

Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, only school fields are available for purposes of this subsidy program. Requests for funds can be submitted for dates of use between March 15 and Aug.15.

Only fields at elementary and middle school sites can be requested at this time, and only for the following times:
  • March 15-June 16 (or last day of MCPS school year): end of the school day until sundown.
  • Weekends and June 17-Aug. 15: 7 a.m. to sundown.
To apply for funding consideration, complete the online application.

For more information about the program, email cupf@montgomerycountymd.gov.

County Commission on Veterans Affairs Supports ‘Toastmasters’ Program to Help Build Communications Skills and Confidence for Veterans; Next Meeting is Saturday, Jan. 23

A special chapter of the worldwide Toastmasters organization that was formed in Montgomery County to help improve speaking skills and build confidence for veterans will be held starting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Montgomery County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs strongly supports the program as an opportunity to help veterans.

The special chapter invites veterans, wounded warriors, transitioning military personnel and caregivers to experience the Toastmasters program that works to build skills in public speaking, job interview situations and experiencing group settings. The program seeks to build self-confidence and maximize potential. 

To register for the meeting and get instructions on how to access it, go to the link via Zoom.

“Veterans sometimes leave military service with issues of various kinds—some obvious to others and some not so obvious,” said Wayne Miller, chair of the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs. “Often not noticeable is the lack of self-confidence that comes in moving to the non-military world. Toastmasters is one opportunity veterans can take advantage of to build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in their next steps in life.”

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that was established in 1924 and teaches public speaking and leadership skills. It currently has more than 364,000 members in more than 16,200 clubs in 145 countries. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, visit www.toastmasters.org.

January 14, 2021

Message County Executive Marc Elrich



Dear Friends,

As I am writing this letter, Governor Larry Hogan has just held a news conference about changes to the distribution system for the COVID-19 vaccine. I want you to know that my staff and I are reviewing his statements and will share information with you as we have it.

Speaking of information, I think over the past week we have seen extreme examples of how dangerous misinformation can be. Here in Montgomery County, I am concerned that there is misinformation being circulated about vaccines and distribution. I want to use this space to share actual information with you.

I have received many questions, such as: When can I get the vaccine? Why are my friends in other states getting the vaccine and I can’t? Can’t I register in advance? Can’t you move any faster? Why is it taking so long? Why are you sitting on a ton of vaccines and why don’t you get them out?

First, let me be very clear: We are administering the vaccines as we receive them. We do NOT have unused vaccines lying around or going to waste. You can see this information on our special COVID website at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/.

As you may know, the State—not the County—receives the vaccines and then distributes the doses. For the past four weeks, we have received vaccines from the State. Each week, we get two-to-three days’ notice of when they will arrive and how many doses we will receive. We cannot make plans to administer those doses until we have that information. 

Some have asked why we do not ask our employees to work through the weekend to finish vaccine distribution as fast as possible. Our public health and logistics staff has worked non-stop since this pandemic began more than 10 months ago. They are tired. They are willing to work as much as needed, but right now, we do not need them to work on the weekends because we do not have enough vaccine doses from the State. We can—and have—used all the doses before the next supply arrives. If we use our doses quickly during the week, we do not get more doses.

To date, the County has only received 19,800 doses. We have approximately 750,000 County residents who are eligible for these doses. Some will receive doses directly from hospitals or nursing homes, but most will not.

The vaccines that are currently available from two drug companies require two doses about four weeks apart to be fully effective. That makes the math simple: We may need 1.5 million doses to cover all residents if these remain the only two types of vaccines. So even as the number of doses we receive increases, we must use some of them to give the second shot to people who have already received their first vaccine.

The chart below shows what we have received so far and how the second doses will be administered. 


As you can see, the first 100 people are now receiving their second doses and the chart tells when the others need to receive their second doses.

In the week of Jan. 27, we will need 4,200 doses just for the people who already received their first shot. Even if we received 12,200 doses that week, only 8,000 new people would receive a dose.

For the week of Feb. 3, we need to use 8,600 doses as second shots. So even if we receive 16,600 doses, only 8,000 of those doses will go to new people.

We think—actually, we hope—we will receive more doses next week, possibly around Jan. 19. We are waiting to hear from the State about how many doses we will receive and when we will receive them.

If we receive more doses, we will make sure they are quickly administered and we will continue to do it based on CDC guidance. That means we have to prioritize groups because we have many more people needing vaccines than doses available. We explain the priorities on our website.

Right now, we have the capacity to administer many more doses than we have received. And we are working with partners around the County on how to increase that capacity. In addition, we are talking with our counterparts in other jurisdictions to learn what they are doing.

I know many of you want to know: When will it be my turn?

We do not know when it will be your turn. It depends on how many doses we receive from the State. I know that the Governor has said that residents 75 and older (approximately 73,000 in our County), and others, should be prioritized beginning next week. The plan only works if we receive many more doses from the State than we are currently receiving.

In other states, people 75 and older may already be receiving their vaccines for a variety of reasons. Some states may have received more doses than Maryland. Jurisdictions within a state may have received different amounts of doses depending on that state’s allocation formulas. Additionally, states may have decided to move into Phase 1b of priority groupings even if Phase 1a is not complete. Also, a state may not have followed the CDC guidelines for prioritization. There may be other reasons. 

But I want you to know that we are not holding back vaccines and we are administering them first to the people at greatest risk of exposure – as directed by the CDC. 

How will you know when it is your turn? If you have email and internet access, please sign up for our updates on our webpage.

We are working on a system that will allow people to register in advance. We are learning from mistakes in other places where the systems are crashing. We want our system to be able to handle the number of people we expect to sign up.

There also are many people who do not have easy access to email and the internet and we want to be able to reach them when it is their turn. These are issues of equity and fairness.

We are also adapting as information and supplies change. The Federal government has said it will release more doses—we are awaiting information about what that means. Next week, we will have a new President and administration and there may be more changes. We are in constant contact with officials at the State and Federal levels, as well as with other local officials and public health experts.

I hope this has helped give a sense of vaccine distribution. We will continue to provide updated information.

In the meantime, please remember that we all need to maintain physical distance and to wash hands frequently. And wear a mask. Please stay safe.



Marc Elrich
County Executive