Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has teamed up with Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) to launch a telephone line to assist Marylanders without internet in making vaccine appointments. The COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
@MDHealthDept launched a COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center to share info on the vaccine and help people find vaccine providers near their homes! The Center can be reached at 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829) from 7 AM to 10 PM every day. Read more at https://t.co/fpz6f64795 pic.twitter.com/SdDVGmxXX1
— The Arc Maryland (@thearcmd) February 17, 2021
The support center can be reached by calling 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829). The phone line aims to provide a medium for vulnerable populations to make appointments without using the internet. The support center also helps individuals identify vaccine providers close to their homes.
“Maryland’s new Vaccination Support Center is an important part of our efforts to promote equity in vaccination for the state’s most vulnerable residents,” Acting MDH Secretary Dennis Schrader said in a statement. “By providing telephone access and the assistance of live advocates, we are making the vaccine registration process simple and easy.”
“Maryland’s new Vaccination Support Center is an important part of our efforts to promote equity in vaccination,” said Acting @MDHealthDept Secretary Schrader.
“Ensuring our most vulnerable populations receive vaccines is our top priority,” said @MarylandAging Secretary Kramer.
— Maryland Department of Health (@MDHealthDept) February 16, 2021
The program had its soft launch on Feb. 15, which MDH and MDOA described as successful, but WTOP reports was frustrating for some seniors.
MDH and MDOA say that on Feb. 15 there were “6,000 inbound and outbound calls targeting segmented groups of seniors drawn from lists provided by the Maryland Department of Aging, including participants in the Senior Call Check program.” The connection rate of the 619 outbound calls was 37%. Through the soft launch, the call center helped book 2,000 appointments for the mass vaccination site at Six Flags.
“Ensuring that our most vulnerable populations receive vaccines is our top priority, and new resources such as the Vaccine Support Center are creating more accessibility,” MDOA Secretary Rona Kramer said in a statement. “I am thrilled to offer this new option for our aging populations.”
Now is an excellent time to remind friends, family, and neighbors about the Senior Call Check program. It is important that we check in on our older adults, especially those living alone, to make sure they are okay. #eldercare #mdaging https://t.co/GMLFxcbceL pic.twitter.com/t3jsR7egoC
— Maryland Department of Aging (MDoA) (@MarylandAging) February 17, 2021
