A vaccination requirement will protect seniors

December 10, 2021

Dear Resident,

As we all face down the possible emergence of a new COVID variant, we can be confident in our ability to manage through if we keep following best practices — including ventilation, masking in certain settings, testing, vaccinations, boosters. (Schedule your booster appointment here.)

Most people can be confident that they are protected once vaccinated. As the New York times reported, data from King County Washington shows that the risk of hospitalizations remains very, very low for younger age cohorts that are vaccinated. And soon we will have anti-viral pills in addition to monoclonal antibodies.

For seniors, however, and those with higher medical risks, there continues to be some elevated risk even after being vaccinated. That is why we must stamp out transmission, so that we can all — including our seniors — return to normalcy.

Our vaccination rate is very high, and as the Washington Post detailed, our death rate is relatively low. But there are still many unvaccinated people. And the pandemic continues to burn.

One way that we can increase our vaccination levels is through employer requirements. I continue to believe that we must require County employees to get vaccinated, with necessary medical and religious exemptions. Unfortunately the legislation several of us have proposed to do just that is facing resistance from the leadership of the employee unions (though not in the schools) and the County Executive.

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Vaccines for kids aged 5-11

November 4, 2021

Dear Resident,

As you have probably seen, the FDA and CDC have given emergency use authorization of the first COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11. Beginning this week, limited doses will be available through County clinics and private providers, with more doses available each week. Doses are allocated to local governments and private providers by the State of Maryland, based on our State’s allocation from the federal government.

Here is a list of private providers who are administering the vaccine to this age group. For more information about the County’s plans and to sign up for an appointment at one of the County’s clinics, you can visit this website. Appointment sign-ups began last night, November 3. As more doses become available, the County will schedule more clinics, including school-based clinics in partnership with MCPS.

As we have throughout the pandemic, my council colleagues and I will be watching closely to ensure that limited doses are made available across the County as efficiently and equitablely as possible.

As we prepare to gather for the holidays, please stay safe and protect those around you by getting vaccinated!

Sincerely,
Hans

Yes, vaccinations should be required for County employees

October 21, 2021

Dear Resident,

President Biden and national health advisors are strongly urging employers to adopt vaccination requirements. They say requirements are a critical policy to make workplaces safe and finally get COVID under control.

Here in Montgomery County, we are discussing legislation I have introduced with Councilmembers Jawando and Albornoz to require County employees to get vaccinated as a condition of employment (with certain limited exemptions). MCPS already has the requirement, which their unions supported.

We introduced the law because we are concerned that the County Executive’s “vax or test” approach is too weak or ineffective.

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