The Vaccine Surge Is Leaving Maryland with Short Supply

(BEL AIR, Md.) — Vaccine production is ramping up across the U.S. with the country now in its fourth month of COVID-19 vaccine rollout. 

Vaccine makers Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are increasing production to ensure 600 million vaccines will be in the arms of adults by July, according to the Biden administration. 

In late February, 75 million doses had been administered. That number has risen by more than 20 million in March. 

However, many states are seeing a short supply of vaccines. In Harford County, Maryland, 22% of the population has received one dose of the vaccine, a 7% increase since last month. The state is currently under vaccination phase 1C, allowing teachers, grocery store workers, and adults 65 and older to get vaccinated.

Harford County’s local health department is working to vaccinate residents along with drug stores like CVS and Walgreens. Just 1,400 doses were sent to the health department each week in February, with that number remaining unchanged in March, according to their website. Meanwhile, thousands of eligible residents are still waiting to receive a dose.

With older Americans, essential workers, and those with preexisting conditions becoming fully vaccinated, many younger adults are waiting their turn. Rosemarie Miller, a graduate student at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter journalism school, has taken on new hobbies.

“During the pandemic, I’ve been working on YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and personal training,” she said. 

President Biden recently announced the rest of the adult population should be eligible to be vaccinated by May, pushing up his original time frame by two months.