The new location for this page is
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/
Vaccine Priority Groups
Updated January 26, 2021
DO NOT SHARE LINKS TO VACCINE APPOINTMENTS.
People who have NOT received a link directly from Montgomery County, and who come to a County vaccination clinic, WILL be turned away.
Progress through the tiers depends on the vaccine deliveries we receive from the State of Maryland and the federal government.
Priority 1A
Tier 1
*** We are currently in this tier. ***
Hospital systems are responsible for vaccine administration to hospital-based healthcare workers. The CDC's Pharmacy Partnership is coordinating the distribution and administration of vaccination in congregant living facilities.
Preregister for an appointment- Hospital personnel
- * Long-Term Care Facilities – staff & residents
- * Developmental Disability Administration group homes
- * Assisted Living Facilities
- * Residential Rehabilitation Programs
Tier 2
*** We are currently in this tier. ***
Populations with frequent exposure to individuals with known COVID-19 and/or providing services essential to the maintenance of public health and healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes populations unable to work from home and unable to control social distancing.
Preregister for an appointment- EMS
- Vaccinators (Local Heath Departments, school nurse, etc.)
- Testing sites – testers/onsite registration
- Public Health – COVID response
- Urgent care
- Primary care
Tier 3
*** We are currently in this tier. ***
Populations with risk of exposure to individuals with suspected COVID-19 and/or providing services essential to the maintenance of public health and health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes populations that may be unable to work from home and unable to control social distancing.
Preregister for an appointment- Dental practices
- Pharmacists
- Other health care professionals (e.g., outpatient specialties, optometrists, physical therapists, podiatrists, community health workers, in-home nursing staff)
- Patient-facing, licensed social workers
- Detention Center staff
- Homeless shelter staff
- Law enforcement (patrol/public-facing)
- Fire rescue
- 9-1-1 dispatchers
- Behavioral health (non-telehealth) – e.g., residential/recovery
- School nurses (non-vaccine/non-testers)
- Lab workers
- Morticians/funeral home staff
- Surgical centers
- Other providers licensed by Maryland Department of Health
Priority 1B
Tier 1
*** We are currently in this tier. ***
Adults age 75 and older
Preregister for an appointmentU.S. Census estimate: 73,000 residents
Tier 2
*** We expect to have preregistration for this tier later this week. ***
Front-line essential workers hold critical jobs essential to the functioning of society and have potential occupational exposure to individuals with COVID-19. A subset of frontline essential workers has the highest risk for potential exposure as they are unable to work from home or control social distancing.
- Public transit workers (e.g. transport for seniors and persons with disabilities)
- Education sector (teachers & support staff)
- Child care workers
- Food and agricultural workers
- Postal service workers
- Grocery store workers
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Individuals in detainee centers
Tier 3
*** We expect to have preregistration for this tier later this week. ***
Front-line essential workers hold critical jobs essential to the functioning of society and have potential occupational exposure to individuals with COVID-19. A subset of frontline essential workers has the highest risk for potential exposure as they are unable to work from home and may be unable to control social distancing.
- Manufacturing workers
Priority 1C
Tier 1
*** We expect to have preregistration for this tier later this week. ***
Adults age 65 to 74
U.S. Census estimate: 91,000 residents
Tier 2
*** We expect to have preregistration for this tier later this week. ***
Populations with high-risk medical conditions have a significantly increased risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Nearly 90% of persons hospitalized for COVID-19 have an underlying medical condition.
- Adults 16(18)-64 years old with medical conditions
High-risk medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Heart conditions
- Immunocompromised state
- Obesity/Severe obesity
- Pregnancy
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes
- Asthma (moderate-severe)
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or High Blood pressure
- Immunocompromised conditions (from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, prolonged use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medication)
- Dementia, ALS, other neurologic issues
- Liver disease
- Pulmonary disease
- Thalassemia
Tier 3
*** We expect to have preregistration for this tier later this week. ***
Other attributes that put people at significantly higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness include living and working in congregate settings, experiencing homelessness, living in an area with a high rate of transmission, and working in an industry with a high rate of transmission.
- Essential workers not previously in Phase 1A or Phase 1B
- Transportation & logistics
- Water and wastewater
- Food service
- Shelter & housing (e.g., construction)
- Finance (e.g., banks)
- IT & Communications
- Energy
- Legal (state’s attorneys, public defenders, judiciary)
- Media
- Public Safety (e.g., engineers)
- Public health workers – non-COVID response
- Social & Human Services (Aging, DSS, Human Services) – field/in-home services
- Continuity of government (elected officials)