County Administering COVID-19 Vaccines at One of the Highest Rates in the State—More Doses Needed

Montgomery 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.

Of the first 19,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine the County received, it is estimated that 100 percent will be distributed by Friday, Jan. 15. The County has not informed about when the next doses will arrive, nor how many doses will be delivered. 

Including vaccines that have been delivered directly to private contract administrators/hospitals in the County (which are not included in the statistics for doses delivered directly to the County for distribution), Maryland statistics estimate 30,000 to 40,000 individuals have been vaccinated from the County’s first priority group (1A). The County will not wait until everyone in that 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.

Click to View in PDF

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

For 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 at See the County's latest COVID-19 Vaccines Update.