Photo By Sgt. Arcadia Hammack | U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Alonzo Amison, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Six...... read more read more
Maryland National Guard Soldiers a part of Task Force 291 continue to provide support at the Six Flags America COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Bowie, Maryland. The site was the state’s first mass vaccination site that began administrating vaccines on Feb. 3, 2021, and is administering 2,000 vaccines a day, by appointment.
With support from the Maryland National Guard, Maryland Department of Health, Maxim Healthcare Services, and Kaiser Permanente, the site will eventually be able to vaccinate up to 6,000 people per day.
“We're providing a vital service for the state by assisting Maryland and helping the community get their vaccinations.” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Alonzo Amison, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Bowie mass vaccination site and a member of the 110th Information Operations Battalion. “We are supporting through providing traffic control, making sure civilians are getting into the correct positions, assisting with administering vaccinations, and making sure that safety is paramount while residents go through the experience of getting their vaccination.”
The Bowie mass vaccination site operates seven days a week. Each day, there are approximately 115 Soldiers working alongside civilian partners. Task Force 291 has augmented Soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 58th Troop Command to assist with vaccination efforts as well.
“It's about the commitment that we gave to the National Guard, going to serve and protect our community wherever that may be,” said U.S. Army Spc. Justine Stallworth, a human resource specialist with 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Company. “Just knowing that people are so grateful… we have seen patients cry once they’ve been vaccinated and have seen people filled with so much joy and it makes me feel like I am doing my part as a Soldier.”
As Maryland pushes through the winter season, the Soldiers have faced some challenges due to the weather. According to Amison, despite the rain, sleet, and snow all the Soldiers have a positive attitude and are ready to execute the mission they've been sent here for.
The Bowie mass vaccination site started at only 250 vaccinations a day on Feb. 3, and is now at 2,000 vaccinations a day. Additionally, 14 Mobile Vaccination Support Teams have assisted county vaccination efforts in Charles, Prince George’s, Talbot, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, St. Mary’s and Cecil Counties to assist state and local health officials in administering vaccinations against the coronavirus, since Jan. 6, 2021.
“Being here [Bowie site] means being able to help not only people, but people that I care and serve to protect,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Attallah Grady, an intelligence analyst with 58th EMIB, HHC. “I love Maryland and I want to help vaccinate the people within my state.”
Task Force 291, one of the Maryland Army National Guard’s four major subordinate commands, is dual hatted with the 291st Digital Liaison Detachment. TF 291 provides command and control for two battalions, three detachments, and two separate companies consisting of intelligence, information operations, signal, cyber, and Special Forces units. TF 291 assumed this role following the recent deployment of the 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade headquarters to the Middle East. TF 291, led by command team Army Col. Kristine Henry and Sgt. Maj. Patrick Metzger, will maintain momentum for the 58th EMIB and its subordinate units during its deployment and work to empower the EMIB when it returns by sustaining federal missions, ensuring unity of units and missions and establishing a vision for the future.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2021 10:20 |
| Story ID: | 390324 |
| Location: | BOWIE, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, A Shot of Hope: MDNG Continues Vaccination Support at Six Flags, by SGT Arcadia Hammack, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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