The top 5 counties have population estimates greater than 500,000, with PG and Montgomery county approximating a population estimate of one million. Baltimore city also holds the highest population per square mile (7671.5 versus the lowest of 320.2 in Charles County) and the highest percentage of persons in poverty (20.4% versus the lowest of 5.0% in Howard County). All of the counties are predominantly urban, except for Baltimore city, which is entirely urban with zero percent of its population living in rural areas. The 10 Maryland counties described in order of highest to lowest incidence of COVID-19 are PG, Montgomery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Washington, Frederick, Harford, Charles, and Howard County. Data on the proportion of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and first dose vaccination (Pfizer and Moderna) per county were retrieved from the MDH Maryland COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

County population estimates as of July 1, 2019, as well as demographic data were retrieved from publicly available United States Census Bureau (USCB) data. As a result, this study aims to examine the degree to which the initial state vaccine distribution program was concordant to the racial burden of disease.ĭescriptive study of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccination rates in 10 Maryland counties with the highest incidence of COVID-19 infection and deaths. In December 2020, Maryland began its initial vaccination phase throughout the state. The emergence of a vaccine presents a critical opportunity to provide protection to these vulnerable groups.

In 2019, the Latinx and Black communities made up 10.4% and 31% of Maryland’s population respectively, yet Black and Latinx are the two leading ethnic demographics with respect to total COVID-19 infections in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has reported 450,689 COVID-19 cases and 8622 deaths as of May 5, 2021, with majority of cases (19%) occurring in Prince George’s (PG) County, a historically Black community.

This burden, however, has not fallen equally among people in America, and early evidence demonstrates people of color are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of May 2021, the United States (US) leads in worldwide COVID-19 deaths and infections, with more than 32.5 million confirmed cases and close to 580,000 deaths.

Maryland covid vaccine rate