Letter to Governor Hogan on Vaccines in Maryland

UPDATE: In response to our letter to Governor Hogan, Maryland Nonprofits and Maryland Latinos Unidos received a reply from the Maryland Department of Health on Friday, April 23, 2021. Click here to read the letter.

On March 16, 2021, Governor Hogan received a letter from Maryland Nonprofits and Maryland Latinos Unidos signed by more than 500 signatories, including 221 organizations and 287 individuals. The letter urges more equitable vaccine access across the state and requests that nonprofits have a role in the distribution process. The signatories of the letter ask that the nonprofit community be provided with a direct channel of input with the State regarding the issue of vaccine access over the coming 6-12 months.

Nonprofits are part of the essential workforce that delivers basic health and social services to communities across the state, and the nonprofit community can significantly add value to expand vaccine access and adoption across the State. Nonprofits and faith-based organizations have the connections, trust, and knowledge of their local communities and must be provided resources and a regular forum with the Maryland Department of Health to participate fully in vaccine access work.

The letter’s signatories include nonprofits, faith-based organizations, for-profit companies, and individual members of the community. Read the letter and review its supporters below, or click here to download the letter as a PDF.

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March 16, 2021

The Hon. Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr.
Governor of Maryland
100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401

Dear Governor Hogan:

We are writing on behalf of Maryland Nonprofits that represents more than 1,000 nonprofit members from across the state of Maryland, and Maryland Latinos Unidos, a program of Maryland Nonprofits, representing Latino-led and Latino serving nonprofit organizations, and the signatories to this letter.

First, we thank you for your leadership and work with the General Assembly in quickly approving the Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs, and Families (RELIEF) Act, that will include funding for vaccine access, food banks, mental health and nonprofit organizations in this great time of need. But even with this assistance, the problem with of assuring equitable access and distribution with Covid-19 vaccines remains serious across the State.

Nonprofits are part of the essential workforce that delivers basic health and social services to communities across the state. Our members are increasingly concerned with the lack of equity in vaccine distribution to date, as well as the lack of clear plans on how we will expand vaccine access and adoption in Black, Latino and low-income communities. Nonprofits and faith-based organizations have the connections, trust, and knowledge of their local communities and must be provided resources and a regular forum with Maryland Department of Health to participate fully in vaccine access work. This is a race against the clock to get to zero infections in Maryland.

We are particularly concerned that communities hardest hit with COVID-19 continue to remain those with disproportionately lower vaccination rates. As just one example, Prince George’s County, the state’s hardest-hit county from COVID and the county with high numbers of Latino and Black residents has a vaccination rate less than half the state average (3.7% in Prince Georges County vs. 7.8% statewide) according to the data provided to the Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup on February 15, 2021. The data from Maryland Department of Health further outlines that only 15% of vaccines have been distributed to Black people who make up 31% of the state’s population and only 3.7% have been distributed to Hispanic people who make up 10% of the state’s population.

We must have a plan and greater community input to ensure equity and that we overcome the following barriers:

• Cost: Ensure vaccines are free and do not require copays.
• Internet Access: Expand opportunities for people without internet to obtain information and assistance in making appointments by phone.
• Transportation Access and Disability: Ensure people without transportation and people with disabilities are reached and can be vaccinated through a mobile site or have transportation provided.
• Outreach by Trusted Messengers: Ensure Black, Latino and other immigrant and low-income communities receive vaccine information in numerous ways from trusted messengers.
• Vaccine Site Placement and Mobile Vaccination Clinics: Ensure that vaccination sites are located in walking distance to where people live in communities with high numbers of Black, immigrant and low-income communities.
• Language Access: Ensure vaccine information is available in multiple languages and that vaccine administration sites are equipped with interpreters and health practitioners who are from the community and speak different languages.
• Vaccine Hesitancy: Ensure funding is provided to support partnerships with trusted organizations that can help address vaccine hesitancy in Black and Latino communities and across all Marylanders. We cannot underestimate the concerns that our neighbors face – particularly regarding the historical treatment of Black communities in the area of medical experimentation and of Latino communities in terms of deportation and detention. The current implementation of plans for vaccine distribution are not putting us in a position to tackle these real problems.

Nonprofits are particularly well suited to serve communities experiencing barriers to vaccination. We ask that the nonprofit community be provided with a direct channel of input into the issue of vaccine access over the coming 6-12 months. We believe the nonprofit community can significantly add value to expand vaccine access and adoption across the State. Please engage us in a robust way as part of the vaccine solution in Maryland so we can bring our infection rates down to zero and get Maryland moving again!

Thank you for all you are doing to keep Maryland safe and moving forward amidst the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Heather Iliff President & CEO Maryland Nonprofits

Gabriela Lemus Executive Director Maryland Latinos Unidos

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ORGANIZATIONAL SIGNATORIES:

Adelante Latina! 365 Diversity Accessible Resources for Independence Incorporated African American Community Roundtable of Howard County AfriThrive Inc Agape Deliverance Ministries Inc AIDS Action Baltimore, Inc. Amara Legal Center American Society of Plant Biologists AMMPARO Network DMV Anacostia Watershed Society, Inc. Association Activision Association of Community Services of Howard County B4U-ACT, Inc. Baltimore Association of Nepalese in America (BANA) Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. Baltimore Neighbors Network Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership Baltimore Rock Opera Society BEACON House, Inc. Behavioral Health Leadership Institute Black Doula Project Blind Industries and Services of Maryland B’More Clubhouse Bon Secours Baltimore Foundation Boost Social Sector Consulting LLC Brain Injury Association of Maryland Bridges to Housing Stability, Inc. BVM Foundation Inc. Calvert Library Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic CANTORI CARES LLC CASH Campaign of Maryland Catonsville Emergency Assistance Cause Engagement Associates LLC Cedar Ridge Children’s Home and School, Inc. Center of Help, Inc. Challengers Independent Living Child Safety Squad Inc Children’s Theatre of Annapolis Christian Shelter Church on the Square Clinica Medica Primaria de Rising Sun Communities United Community Action Council Community Development Network of Maryland Community Reach of Montgomery County Cool & Associates LLC Cornerstone Montgomery Cristata Cares Crossroads Community Inc CSahm Foundation for ADHD Services and Support, LLC Culture Principles Defensores de la Cuenca DeLeon & Stang DIJAH’s Diverse Training Services Disability Rights Maryland DRU Mondawmin Healthy Families Inc. Dundalk Renaissance Corporation DVS Legal Services, Inc. ecoLatinos, Inc. El Poder de Ser Mujer ElevateHER, Inc. Elizabeth Seton High School Elmanda Maima Boakai Foundation Inc Employ Prince George’s Envision Frederick County, Inc Episcopal Diocese of MD Family League of Baltimore FDR Community Outreach Center, Inc Fellowship Outreach Corporation, Inc FIRN FOZA Inc Garwyn Oaks Northwest Housing Resource Center GEDCO Gethsemane Baptist Church Goshen UMC Grace Global Health Compassion, Inc Greater Baybrook Alliance Greater Expectations Outreach Ministries Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland HARBEL Community Organization Harlem Park Community Development Corporation HASA HeartSmart Foundation Help in the Home, LLC Heritage Africa Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection HIP Homeless Persons Representation Project HopeWell Cancer Support Horizon Foundation of Howard County Hospice of the Chesapeake Housing Options & Planning Enterprises, Inc. Howard County Autism Society iFLY Youth I’m Bruised But Not Broken, Inc Immigration Outreach Service Center In Honor of Our Troops (IHOOT) In Reach, Inc. Independence Now Integrative Management Solutions, LLC Integrity LLC Invest in Children of the world It Takes Two, Inc Joycewayz Judson Education Center Junior League of Baltimore Just Neighbors Kits to Heart KSA Youth Foundation dba A+ Counseling Center-A+ Health Center Lakespring Associates Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Inc. Leadenhall Baptist

Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center Inc League of Women Voters of Baltimore City League of Women Voters of Maryland Let’s Thrive Baltimore Management Counsel, LTD & LLC Manna Food Center Mary Kraft & Associates, Inc. Maryland Academy of Family Physicians Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools Maryland Center on Economic Policy Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault Maryland Coalition of Families Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network; Anne Arundel County Human Relations Commission Maryland Hunger Solutions Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence Maryland New Directions Maryland Nonprofits Maryland Public Health Association Maryland Resource Parent Assoc. Maryland Rural Health Association Maryland Veterinary Technician Association Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care Mason-Dixon Community Services, Inc. McJoy’s Joy Covenant MD Association of Community Services MD Coalition of Families Mid County United Ministries, Inc. Mikros Group, LLC Minority Access, Inc. Monterey Institute of Natural Medicine Montgomery County Food Council NAMI Howard County NAMI Maryland NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore, Inc. National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) National Great Blacks in Wax Museum NKWA Foundation Inc Nonprofit Village Omicron Delta Sigma Outcast Food Network Owen Community Healthcare Center, Inc. Palomino Media Group LLC Park Heights Renaissance Planned Parenthood of Maryland Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC Power Jam Music Alliance Inc. Power52 Foundation Prensa Libre de Maryland Pressley Ridge Proyecto Salud Clinic Public Justice Center Quixote Center Rebuild Johnston Neighborhood Org Rebuilding Together Howard County Recovery Coalition of Maryland Redstart Creative Reflections of Christ Reggie Prostate Cancer Foundation Retreat Center of Maryland Saltzberg Consulting Sankofa Children’s Museum of African Cultures Second Chance Christian Center Second Chances Garage Solutions in Hometown Connections South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) Francis Neighborhood Center Luke’s Church on the Avenue STAR Scholars Network Steadfast, Standing Firm Against Youth Homelessness Stella’s Girls Street Angel Project Inc Strong City Baltimore Sunshine Projects Susanna Wesley House Adams & Associates Taking the Lead, Inc. The Arc Baltimore, Inc. The Board Room Chess The Clarion Call, Inc. The Community Group Inc The Coordinating Center The Freedom Center, Inc. The Great Commission Network Foundation The Harford Center, Inc The Helen J. Serini Foundation The Law Help Center, Inc The Maryland Umbrella Group The National Center for Children and Families The Parents’ Place of MD The Pro Bono Counseling Project The Training Source, Inc. The Word Woman LLC Trellis Partners Tri-County Youth Services Bureau, Inc. Unforeseen Visions Inc. United Way of Central Maryland United Way of Frederick County Upcounty Community Resources, Inc. Venezuela Children’s Foundation Victory of Hope Outreach Ministry Wide Angle Youth Media Wilcome Human Services, Inc. Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, Inc WIN Family Services Women’s Housing Coalition

INDIVIDUAL SIGNATORIES:

Kiria Abreu Jimenez Alfreda Adams Lydia Alcock Karen Allen Maria Alvarez-Ryan Bathsheba Amante Jamie Anderson Alnita Anderson-Sherrill Melanie Andrews Violet M. Apple Arlen Asher Erin Ashinghurst Veronica Atkinson Sheila Barnes-Jones Danielle Duran Baron Ronald Barrett Kathryn Barron Elizabeth Bauer Diane Beaver Jill Berry Armalia Berry-Washington Alice M. Bishop Manyarara John Bjork Tammy Black Jamila Blake Meryl Bloomrosen Linda Boyd Natalie Browne Carol Bruce Carol Burdette Ericka Burke Jasmine Campbell Robert Cannon Kimberly Carter Colleen Cates Joyce Cavey Marjani Cephus Melanie Cerritos Kathy Charles-Christian Linfeng Chen Nicholas Cohen Christopher Costello The Rt. Rev. Michael W. Creighton Melissa Curtin Anne Dailey Lisa Danaczko Gloria Daniels Sandra Davis Debra Delavan Elizabeth Delens Angie Deras Melanee Derenzy Deepak Dewaly Olivia Dewitt Erin Donovan Maria Dontas Erin Lorraine Dozier Robyn Durchanek Jennfer Evans Carol Fernandez Latia Few Leah Fisher Silvia D. Flores Kenitra Fokwa Janice Foreman Douglas Fox Dana Frederick Lucile Freeman Emily Frias Cesiah Fuentes Bruce Fulton Donna Gaither Stuart Galonoy Wendy Garcia Deirdre Gardner Jeanette Gatewood Nova Getz John Gilpin Maran Gluckstein Lorraine Godfrey Linda Green Lisa Greene Barbara Greene-Brooks Alberto Grosmark Cathyann Grundmayer Tanya Gunn Elizabeth Guthrie María Gutiérrez Anita Hammond Valeri Hampton Daia Hansford Bambi Harmon Bonnie Harry Jonathan Haskett Jocelyn Hauer Anne Hefter Suzanne Eggleston Henneman Minda Heyman Kim Hicks Donna Hill Staton Jack Hodges Laura Holland Mark Houck Walter Howard Yvonne Howard Laura Howard Kate Hull Francine Hyman Emily Isbell Debra Jacobs Linda C. Janey María Jarrin Judy M. Jenkins Barbara Johnson Vicki L. Jones Silvia Guadalupe Juarez Patti Kane Nickole Kanyuch Camara Arielle Kelly Elizabeth Kendall Rebekah King Amy Knesel Jessica Kohnen Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum Shoshana Kronfeld Peter Lane Megan Larocque Sophia Lawson Sasha Ledesma Franny Lerner Krystal Lighty Rosa Lily Melissa Lima Glenda Lindsey Onyx Linthicum Ruth Louie Christopher Lowe Mary Luzier Kathleen Lyon Julie Ma Kristopher Madore Ashleigh Maples Rita Marth Paula Martin Felix Martinez

Gicel Martinez Amy Martinez Sanchez Barbara I. Mason Barbara Mason Adrienne Mcbride Jim Mccomb Laura Mcconnell Amy Mccullough Tracey Mcintire Tanya Mech Angela Miller Gustavo Minaya Monteith Mitchell Ana Astrid Molina Carolina Moppett Jessica Morgan Lynn Mortoro Marion Mudd Mahasti Mudd Jon Munn Kecia Munroe Rachel Muzakir Andre Myers Toyia Nash Lyda Monica Nazelrod Nancy Newman Margaret Ann Nolan Beth Nowak Alexandra O’Keefe Cindy O’Neill Sima Osdoby Katrina Ositelu Rachel Anne Pagador Kenneth Phelps Julia Pierson Patricia Prasada-Rao Edmund Preston Leni Preston Lawrence Joseph Prikockis Premjotee Pundu Kelly Quinn Robert Rausch Vanessa Ray Lynda Raybuck Jennifer Renault Cheri Michelle Reulet Elizabeth Rice Beth Sperber Richie Margaret Karen Rist Linda Rittelmann Nicole Rivera Jeffrey Riviera-Sanabria Patricia Robinson Bernadette Roche Saraiah Rodriguez Rust Mary Roeder Ashley Rogers Katina Rojas Nazario-Joy Juliet Ronhovde Jean Rosenberg Julie Rosicky Michelle Ross Melissa Rothstein Ford Rowan Elizabeth Roybal Rachel Rutherford Andrew Sacchetti Barbara Samuels Jeffrey Samuels Nikia Sankofa Mark Scallion Robin Weber Schaffer Katherine Scherr-Adams Cathy Schmidt Dee Schofield William Scipio Sally Scott Audrey Sellers Khalida Senghori Jana Serini Katharine Shahinian Kelly Shamah Robert Sheehan Dana Vickers Shelley Emily Shetty Cynthia Shifler Walter L. Simmons Ann Simpers Margo Sipes Smith Ashley Smith Sara Smoley Sonia Socha John Spillane Walter Staveloz Alan Stein Betsy Stephens Susan Stern Patricia Sullivan Christa Sumpter Robin Talbert Najma Talib Crispin Taylor Dawn Taylor Meena Tharmaratnam Tina Thomas Caryssa Thomas Marina Thompson Tica Torres Kelly Umana Frank Valdivieso J. Vancura Jennifer Vancura Ecola Virgil Michelle D. Waller Jia Bei Wang Latonya Ward Anthony Washington Carolyn Washington Carolyn E. Watson Kimberly Weiner Angela Wells-Sims Rachel Werner Joanna White David Whiteman Nancy Wiley Carolyn Wilkins Jane Willeboordse Lisa Malvotia Williams Clifton Williams Roland Williams Vickie Williams Gordon Williams Nancy Winchester Conner Wolfe Wendy Wolff Daniel C. Wood Alicia Wopat Courtney Workman Sandi Worthman Amy Elaine Yasneski Deacon Corby Zeren