Covid-19 vaccinations are under way in Wicomico County, but there are restrictions on who gets them.

In following the state’s Vaccination Plan, the Wicomico County Health Department is scheduling vaccinations for only those listed in Group 1A -- which includes health care workers, first-responders and residents of long-term care facilities.

Maryland’s plan outlines how the vaccine will be distributed throughout the state in four phases. Initially, vaccine supply will be limited and this phased plan helps prioritize vaccinations for groups in order of relative risk.  

• Phase 1A: Health care workers, first-responders, and residents and staff members of long-term care facilities.

• Phase 1B: People at significantly higher risk of severe Covid-19 illness.

• Phase 2:  People in critical/essential infrastructure roles and those at a moderately higher risk of severe Covid-19 illness.

• Phase 3: The general population.

Currently, Wicomico County health officials are only vaccinating those people listed under Group 1A.

The Health Department is in the process of contacting those in Phase 1A.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine under an emergency use authorization. This vaccine is administered in two doses 28 days apart. Wicomico received shipments of the Moderna during the week of Dec. 21

On Dec. 22, the Health Department began vaccinating people eligible under Phase 1A.

During these clinics, health workers administered the first dose of vaccine to 244 people in the Phase 1A group.

The Health Department also continues to contact health care providers in Wicomico County to plan distribution for those offices as it continues to receive more vaccine supplies.

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccines, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.

Information about the vaccine distribution in Maryland and priority phases can be found at covidlink.maryland.gov.