Vaccine Distribution

Vaccine FAQs Index>>

How will the vaccine be distributed?
Updated 12/7/20

OWS has designated McKesson as the central distributor of all COVID-19 vaccines, with the exception of the Pfizer vaccine. Because of its ultra-cold storage temperature requirements, Pfizer will distribute its vaccine directly. McKesson has experience in large-scale vaccine distributions; in 2009, the company was hired by the CDC to ship H1N1 vaccines to 90,000 sites across the country – the largest U.S. public health effort at the time. McKesson, Pfizer, and Moderna will not make decisions on where the vaccines are distributed – they will take direction from state and local officials.

How has UMMS determined who will be receiving the vaccine and when?
Updated 11/24/20

UMMS – as well as the State of Maryland and many other health systems across the country – will proceed with allocation according to the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine – developed by the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) to ensure the vaccine is allocated ethically across all populations while still in limited supply. UMMS is also consulting the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine. Additional details regarding how this will work at each UMMS member hospital will be shared as we continue to finalize specific distribution plans.

How will UMMS determine who gets which vaccine?
Updated 3/11/21

The vaccine you receive will depend on which vaccine is available at the time your vaccination is scheduled. You will not be able to choose which vaccine you receive. UMMS will continue to distribute vaccines based on supply and clinical indications alone. The most important thing is to get the vaccine when it is offered to you.

Depending on which vaccine you get, you might need a second dose after you get your first dose (at least 21 days apart for Pfizer or at least 28 days apart for Moderna). Your first and second dose will be the same vaccine. UMMS has created protocols to ensure second doses of the vaccine are available at the proper time and that our employees and patients receive the same vaccine for both doses, if applicable. If you get the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, you will only need one dose.

Who will have access to the vaccine once UMMS receives the first doses?
Updated 11/24/20

Once a vaccine is available, UMMS will proceed with allocation according to the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine – developed by the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). Under these guidelines, frontline health care workers qualify for the first doses of an approved vaccine.

How much of the vaccine will UMMS be receiving?
Updated 12/21/20

UMMS received an initial shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, December 14, 2020 and administered all of those doses to employees at each member hospital through the end of last week. This initial shipment was a trial run to confirm all logistical and operational workflows are running as planned within our System and in accordance with the state. As we receive future shipments of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, we will communicate details about those shipments as soon as information is available.

It is important to understand that at this time, we do not have control of the total doses allocated to UMMS and do not have full visibility as to when we will receive more. Eventually, each member hospital will be able to order its own vaccine based on needs, but as supplies remain limited, allocation will be controlled entirely by the Maryland Department of Health.

It is also important to note that some UMMS employees also work at independent medical systems within agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. These agencies have their own vaccine allocation, so employees with dual roles may be afforded the opportunity for vaccination through that agency before they would be at UMMS because they are working within a different distribution process. Employees who receive their first dose at an external agency should plan to complete their second dose at the same location, when possible.

We are releasing doses to member hospitals as soon as we have them and anticipate receiving more doses at a faster pace in the coming weeks. As soon as supply is available, vaccinations will be scheduled, until all members of the UMMS and UMB community who want a vaccine are able to receive one.

How can I be sure that I’m going to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Updated 2/4/21

UMMS has developed a risk-based ethical vaccine allocation plan based on national frameworks, including the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s (NASEM) Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine. Under this plan, all 28,000 UMMS employees, including remote employees, are eligible for vaccination within NASEM Phase 1a.

While UMMS has started to vaccinate patients and the public in accordance with the State of Maryland’s vaccine distribution plan, we are also continuing to give the vaccine to all employees. Please know that all UMMS employees and providers remain eligible for vaccination at any time and will be prioritized as we get additional vaccine supply.

Here are some important reminders:

  • Schedules are extremely limited as we wait for more vaccines. Please note, we are no longer able to take employee walk-ins at any of our clinics.
  • If you are not currently able to schedule a vaccination appointment, please be patient. As we get more vaccine supply, we will prioritize UMMS team members by giving you the first opportunity to schedule as new appointments become available.
  • If you already have an appointment to get your first or second dose, please do not reschedule. This has become increasingly important given the limited vaccine supply. We are releasing schedules in a controlled and precise manner based on limited supply at each hospital. When people cancel or reschedule appointments, it prevents us from being able to maintain as safe and fair of an operation as possible. If you have an unexpected work-related conflict, please speak with your manager or supervisor about getting necessary coverage.
  • If you got your first dose with UMMS, we have a second dose for you. We are committed to completing vaccinations for all team members and patients and have accounted for how many second doses we will need to do this.

At what point will we begin vaccinating patients?
Updated 2/4/21

On Monday, January 18, UMMS began vaccinating patients and eligible people who qualify to get the vaccine under Phase 1b of the State of Maryland’s vaccine distribution plan. For this group, UMMS is focused on:

  • People 75 years or older 
  • People who live in assisted or senior living facilities
  • People who live in a developmental disabilities/behavioral health group home
  • K-12 teachers and support staff, child care providers, and higher education institutions (educational facilities include licensed child care facilities, K-12 public school systems and nonpublic schools and higher educational institutions)

Other groups in Phase 1b are being prioritized through state and federal vaccination plans.

On Monday, January 25, UMMS began offering the vaccine to eligible people who qualify to get the vaccine under Phase 1c of the state’s plan. This group includes:

  • Adults 65-74
  • Public health and safety workers not covered in Phase 1a
  • Health care workers not covered in Phase 1a, including but not limited to lab services, public health and vaccine manufacturing
  • Higher education frontline workers not covered in Phase 1b, including workers with potential contact with students living in residence halls (congregate living), facilities maintenance, dining hall and campus police
  • Essential workers in food/agriculture production, critical manufacturing, grocery stores, U.S. Postal Service, public mass transit, veterinarians and support staff, and clergy and other essential support staff for houses of worship

On Monday, February 1, UMMS followed the state in expanding Phase 1c to include individuals who are currently receiving hospital-based treatment, including in hospital outpatient centers, and have one of the following conditions:

  • Cancer patients who are currently in active treatment
  • End stage renal disease patients requiring hemodialysis
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Solid organ transplant recipients
  • Sickle cell disease patients
  • Diabetic patients (Type 1 and Type 2)
  • Individuals with these conditions who are not currently receiving hospital-based treatment will remain in Phase 2

Right now, our capacity to vaccinate patients is limited based on our current vaccine supply. Additional vaccines are being allocated to UMMS on a weekly basis, and we are working diligently to ensure we are able to schedule additional vaccinations to eligible patients as fairly as possible, based on each hospital’s capacity.

Will UMMS provide the vaccine for my family member(s)? 
Updated 1/25/21

All health care systems throughout Maryland are following the guidelines set by our state and federal governments in an effort to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. In keeping with this, we will first vaccinate essential workers within our own workforce, as well as patients who are considered “high risk” due to age and underlying health conditions. Priority groups will also include other essential workers such as those in the education, transportation and hospitality. It is an imperfect system, but one that is designed to quickly reduce mortality and maintain a functioning society. 

While being related to and/or living with a health care worker is not considered a high-risk factor on its own, it is likely that many of our friends and family members may fall within an existing priority group, in which case they will be eligible for early vaccination. For those who do not fall into this priority grouping, it will take time and patience. It is also likely that this approach will continue to evolve as additional supply becomes available. We will continue to keep you updated on expanding operations and will notify our workforce immediately should anything change regarding the vaccination of family members. 

How much will the COVID-19 vaccine cost for patients? 
Updated 1/25/21

The COVID-19 vaccine is free. UMMS is not charging for the administration of the vaccine. 

Is UMMS taking advantage of any extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine?
Updated 12/28/20

Yes, UMMS is currently administering all doses of the Pfizer vaccine in each vial. While there is no guarantee that the vial will produce more than five doses, in cases where we are able to get additional doses out of the vial, we are proceeding with administering those doses. The doses are administered according to the same allocation process we have in place for the System. So, that extra dose is given to the next eligible employee.

Will I get a COVID-19 vaccination card if I get the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine?
Updated 3/4/21

Yes. Even though you will not need a second dose, you will get a COVID-19 vaccination card that documents your vaccination, including the date, vaccine you received and who administered your shot.

Vaccine FAQs Index>>

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