As demand wanes, mass vaccination sites to be replaced by local pharmacies and providers.
Just one day after announcing Maryland has reached the 70% threshold for COVID vaccinations, Governor Hogan said he will be closing mass vaccination sites.
The centers will be closed in phases beginning on June 5, with the last site scheduled to close on July 17, 2021. Appointments will continue to be honored until the closure date and all centers now offer appointment-free vaccinations.
As the mass vaccination sites close, people will be directed to local pharmacies, providers, and local health departments.
In preparation for the closure of those sites, officials will be stepping up efforts to get as many people as possible vaccinated. Uber and Lyft are offering free rides to vaccination sites and three childcare companies, KinderCare, Learning Care Group, and YMCA are offering free childcare. The state will also continue spreading the word through its Go Vax Summer Tour, a mobile vaccine unit that visits bars and tourist destinations.
Here is a list of the mass vaccination sites and closure dates:
- Hagerstown Premium Outlets, Hagerstown - June 5, 2021
- Leidos Field and Ripken IronBirds Stadium, Aberdeen - June 19, 2021
- Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, Salisbury - June 19, 2021
- Regency Furniture Stadium, Waldorf - June 24, 2021
- M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore - July 2, 2021
- Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis - July 3, 2021
- The Mall in Columbia, Columbia - July 3, 2021
- Six Flags America Theme Park, Upper Marlboro - July 17, 2021
As each center gets closer to its closing date, it will stop scheduling appointments for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, switching to the single-dose Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine. To get an appointment at one of the 723 pharmacy locations in Maryland, visit covidvax.maryland.gov. You may also be able to get a vaccine through your provider or local health department.
Are you still planning on getting vaccinated? Share your thoughts in the comments.
