At a time when the focus is on supplying the coronavirus vaccine to first responders and healthcare providers, Howard County health officials say some Marylanders who are not yet eligible are trying to get it anyway.
Some Marylanders who are unable to receive the coronavirus vaccine are trying to get it anyway, according to Howard County health officials.
“The health department is currently focused on providing vaccine for first responders and healthcare providers with direct responsibilities for patient care in private clinics,” provincial health officials said on Twitter.
IMPORTANT THREAD: Vaccine supplies are currently very limited in Howard County. The Department of Health is currently focused on providing vaccine for first responders and healthcare providers with direct responsibilities for patient care in private clinics. pic.twitter.com/yD05jq7NCn
– Howard County Health Department (@HoCoHealth) 31 December 2020
But some of the people in the qualifying category who received private links to register for a vaccination continued to share their ties with family members, friends and colleagues who tried to make appointments for themselves.
“These unauthorized appointments occupy a critical place from a first responder or health worker up front,” Howard County health officials said.
Officials said people who received a registration link from a friend or colleague, instead of notifying the Howard County Department of Health, should not register because it would be a waste of time.
“Your appointment will not be honored,” the health department warned, saying that unauthorized appointments delayed the overall effort to distribute the vaccine.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Health in Maryland, about 42,000 people have so far received the vaccine across the state. This is less than 1% of the state’s population.
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