Maryland Announces Phased Closures Of Mass Vaccination Sites

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland is winding down operations at its mass vaccination sites. M&T Bank Stadium is set to give its final second dose shot on July 2.

Gov. Larry Hogan has said for months the sites eventually would close.

"I said our goal was to put ourselves out of business at these mass vaccination sites, and as one of the most vaccinated states in the country, we are now approaching that point," Hogan said. "We have already begun shifting some of these resources to our mobile clinics and community-based activities as we continue in our mission to make sure no arm is left behind."

Maryland is one of a handful of states where more than 70% of adults have received one shot.

The focus will now move to mobile vaccinations and smaller community vaccination sites. However, people will still be able to get vaccines at pharmacies and doctors' offices.

While the mass vaccination sites are open, they remain appointment-free.

"This is part of the transition that we knew was going to happen the whole time. Every Marylander who wants a vaccine should be able to get them, and that's what we're going to do," said Bryan Mroz, Maryland Assistant Secretary of Health. "We're going to bring vaccines as close to people as possible. We're going to make it as easy as we can."

Ripken Stadium in Harford County has already given out its last first dose - with second doses available until June 19.

The Mall in Columbia will give out first doses until June 12 with state operations ending on July 3. That is the same timetable as Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis.

No decision has been made yet to close the Baltimore Convention Center for vaccinations.

"We are looking at how that will be used to support Baltimore City over the next few months," Mroz said.

The National Guard members helping run the sites will return to their regular duties, and any leftover vaccine will be transferred to other vaccine providers.

"The mass vaccination sites have been tailoring their inventory. ...There are not large numbers of vaccines at these sites just sitting there," Mroz said.

There are no current plans to bring back the mass vaccination sites for booster shots in the future, he added.

The state health department is still looking at whether the lottery has increased demand for the vaccine. Officials are hopeful. Cash prizes are being given out through Independence Day.

It comes as the state's daily positivity rate dipped below 1 percent for the first time since the pandemic began.

While life is returning to normal, in Baltimore City, you still must wear masks indoors. The city health department says that will not change until 65% of adults get one shot. Baltimore is at 55% now.

Masks are still mandated in schools statewide.

In Carroll County, some school board members wrote the governor asking that students and teachers be given the option of taking off their masks in classrooms. Students are now allowed to participate in outdoor activities without masks.

The health officer there said last month it is too early despite the low transmission rate.

"I'd encourage them to wait until the end of the school year. I think next year we're going to be mask-free just about everywhere," Carroll County Health Officer Ed Singer told the school board on May 12.

Here's when each site will close:

In:
• Maryland