Baltimore County Announces Innovative Efforts to Offer Uber Rides to Vaccine Clinics and Provide Mobile Vaccines for Homebound

ROSSVILLE, MD — Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced that the County will schedule and cover the cost for Uber rides for residents without other transportation options to ensure they can travel to COVID-19 vaccine clinic sites.

In addition, the Baltimore County Department of Health and the Fire Department will work together to deploy mobile units to administer vaccines directly to residents who are unable to leave their homes.

“Mobility and transportation barriers should never stand in the way of residents receiving this life-saving vaccine,” Olszewski said. “Through these innovative efforts, Baltimore County will better serve all our residents. As we continue our fight against COVID-19, we will continue looking for ways to increase access and ensure equity as we ensure we serve every eligible resident who wishes to receive a vaccine.”

County residents who have made a vaccine appointment but do not have access to other transportation options can call 311 to be connected to CountyRide staff. Staff will schedule an Uber ride for the resident. After receiving their vaccine, staff at the vaccine clinic will be available to help schedule rides home. The County is using CARES funds to support this effort.

Residents who have been certified homebound by their physician should complete Baltimore County’s vaccine registration, which allows them to indicate that they are homebound. They will be contacted by the County to schedule a time to receive their vaccine. Public health nurses will partner with EMTs from the Baltimore County Fire Department to travel to residents’ homes via a mobile unit to administer vaccines.

This service is available only for residents who are truly homebound. The County asks residents to be patient – thousands have already registered and indicated that they are homebound, and it will take time for the County to reach everyone.

More than 117,000 Baltimore County residents, about 14 percent, have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; of those, more than 46,000 have been administered by the Baltimore County Department of Health. More than 66,000 residents have received a second dose.

The Baltimore County Department of Health is currently offering vaccine appointments to individuals in groups 1A and 1B. All residents, regardless of their eligibility, are encouraged to register with the County to be notified when they are eligible to receive a vaccine and there are appointments available.