As states ramp up vaccinations and expand eligibility, health officials can look to one state in particular to better understand the challenges ahead: Maryland has encountered nearly all the geographic, demographic and human behavioral challenges that come with a public health task of this scale. It has poor urban neighborhoods where many people lack access to regular care; wealthy Washington suburbs whose residents have proved adept at vacuuming up shots meant for other ZIP codes; isolated rural areas; and a sign-up system that has turned vaccine hunting into a part-time job for many. “We are going to push, but we’re also going to have to pull,” said Dennis Schrader, the acting health secretary in Maryland, describing the state’s plan not only to increase capacity at mega-sites and pharmacies, but also to “pull people in” with smaller, more targeted efforts. This week, Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, announced that all Maryland adults age 16 and older would be eligible for the vaccine by April 27.

Source: New York Times April 02, 2021 20:48 UTC