Notes From Governor Hogan’s 4/21 Press Conference

Notes From Governor Hogan’s 4/21 Press Conference

The notes from Governor Hogan’s 4/21 press conference come from the tweets of his deputy communications director, Kata Hall.

• @GovLarryHogan is holding a press conference at the State House in Annapolis with Brigadier General Janeen Birckhead, leader of the Vaccine Equity Task Force, and Dr. Jinlene Chan from @MDHealthDept.

• VACCINE PROGRESS. Maryland has surpassed the milestone of 4 million vaccines administered. As of today, we have vaccinated more than 82% of all Marylanders over the age of 65, and more than 55% of all Marylanders 18 and older.

• The state’s more than 3,000 points of distribution have now expanded to 509 pharmacies and 104 doctors’ offices, and the Vaccine Equity Task Force is adding dozens of clinics each week.

• MASS VAX SITES. Tomorrow, we launch the newest mass vaccination site at Ripken Stadium in Harford County. Howard County site at the Mall in Columbia opens next week.

• NO-APPOINTMENT NECESSARY OPPORTUNITIES. Walk-up lines are expanding to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital, and the FEMA site at Greenbelt Metro Station.

• We also expanded walk-up lines at M&T Bank Stadium, Western Maryland, and Eastern Shore mass vaccination sites, and will continue to increase these opportunities in the coming weeks.

• MASS VAX SITE MILESTONES:
-Six Flags will hit 250,000 vaccinations
-Southern Maryland site hitting 100,000 vaccinations today
-M&T Bank Stadium hit a new record of 1,000 vaccinations in an hour yesterday

• The best way to be guaranteed a vaccine and to get through these sites quickly and effectively is to pre-register and secure an appointment.

• NO ARM LEFT BEHIND. The governor announces a new set of initiatives in an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure that every Marylander who wants a vaccine can get access to one as quickly as possible.

• DIRECT OUTREACH TO SENIORS:
-Completed or scheduled clinics at 98% of all senior housing facilities
-Contacting more than 70,000 Medicaid recipients who have not yet received a vaccine and booking appointments for them
-Conducting clinics at dozens of senior centers

• COLLEGE STUDENTS:
-Partnering with Maryland Higher Education Commission to conduct outreach to all college campuses
-Reserving appointments at mass vax sites for college students
-Partnering with 42 public and private colleges and universities on a social media and ad campaign

• PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR EMPLOYERS:
-Working with Southwest Airlines, Exelon, Comcast, Amazon and others to ensure that workforces are vaccinated
-Conducting vaccine clinics for essential workers at manufacturers
-Conducting outreach programs for agricultural workers

• VACCINE SUPPORT CALL CENTER:
-Call center will now provide direct assistance to Marylanders who need help getting a vaccine
-Available seven days a week from 7am to 10pm
-Support providers are now available in over 200 languages

• VACCINE CONFIDENCE CAMPAIGN. We are launching a new PSA featuring trusted physicians talking about the safety of #COVID19 vaccines and encouraging people to get vaccinated.

• @GovLarryHogan: “Next to getting vaccinated, the most important thing you can do is to encourage all of your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family to get vaccinated as well.”