Hogan announces Maryland will close mass vaccination sites, shift to local clinics

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Thursday announced that COVID-19 mass vaccination sites in the state will be phased out, with efforts shifted to local and mobile clinics.

“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 in a statement.

“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. We are also keeping Six Flags, one of our most popular mass vaccination sites, open through mid-July,” Hogan added, expressing gratitude to the nurses, volunteers and National Guard members who helped facilitate the vaccination sites.

According to Maryland Secretary of Health Dennis R. Schrader, almost 1 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered through Maryland’s mass vaccination sites, saying they acted as a “major accelerant” in the Old Line State’s vaccination efforts.

As long as the vaccination sites continue to stay open, patients will not require an appointment to get vaccinated.

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) also announced last week that walk-up vaccination sites would be closing at the end of June.

According to Maryland’s COVID-19 tracker, more than 6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with about 70 percent of its adult population having received at least one dose. Nearly 3 million Maryland residents are fully vaccinated.