We celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The theme for 2022 is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”

The reason Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is because September 15 is significant to a number of Latin American countries. It is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua

You can find news, information and celebrations on the website for National Hispanic Heritage Month.

For local activities, Check the Collaboration Council website for events related to this celebration.

County Executive Elrich kicked-off Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 15 by issuing a proclamation to recognize the special month. The proclamation presentation video can be viewed here

Getting a COVID-19 updated booster shot

 

Last week, the FDA and CDC approved new Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 bivalent boosters that are specifically tailored to combat the two most prevalent omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. Beginning  September 7, the vaccines are widely available in the DMV.

 

The bivalent vaccines can only be used as a booster shot at least two months after the completion of the primary series – or initial required shots – or following a previous booster shot. The Pfizer bivalent vaccine is authorized for those 12 years of age and older. The Moderna bivalent vaccine is authorized for use in people 18 years of age and older. More.

  You can get an updated booster at any of the Montgomery County-sponsored clinics or at a private provider, such as a Giant or CVS pharmacy. Appointments are recommended, especially at county clinics. The federal vaccines.gov site provides information on pharmacies and other providers that have available booster appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Also see Maryland’s vaccine locator.  

For those concerned about mRNA used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Novavax offers an alternative. It’s a traditional protein-based vaccine and does not use mRNA. People aged 12 and over who have not completed another primary COVID-19 vaccine series are eligible for Novavax, which is administered in two doses three week apart.  

The county offers Novavax vaccines at its clinics by appointment only. Call the county’s COVID-19 call center at 240-777-2982 to request appointments or make an appointment online.

 How Do I Get a COVID-19 Test in Montgomery County?

Testing Clinic locations

Seniors and people with disabilities: get a free ride to your COVID-19 testing clinic

Visit one of the county run or sponsored Testing clinics for PCR testing for anyone who lives, works, or regularly visits Montgomery County.

We test people of all ages. If you bring young children, we may ask you to help them get tested. . Appointments are available, or Walk-in on a First-Come, First-Serve basis

Testing is free. If you have insurance, we will ask for your information, but there are no co-pays or deductibles.

We do not require a government ID or a doctor’s order.

Our clinics provide nasal swab tests. You take the sample yourself. The tests are molecular tests, also called PCR tests. These diagnostic tests detect genetic material of the COVID-19 virus using a lab technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We do not offer antibody testing at our clinics.

At-home rapid tests
Order free rapid tests for at-home delivery from the US government.

Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:

Limit of one order per residential address

One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests

Orders will ship free starting in late January

Visit the USPS Site here

Get rapid test kits at any one of 19 Montgomery County Public Library branches.

Rapid test kits are free to Montgomery County residents.
Bring a form of proof of residency. Examples include a Driver’s license, ID, or a bill that shows you are a resident of Montgomery County.

Kit pickup is inside each library. You might enter at a side entrance. If you come early, you may wait outdoors. The line moves fast. If you need support, please ask a site attendant.

Residents can get two kits per person per day. Each kit contains two tests.

We have a limited supply of kits per site. We update this page as locations run out.

Providers can request rapid test kits for their organization or private school. Request COVID-19 Rapid Test Kits for your organization

The Excel Beyond the Bell (EBB) Collaborative is now open for Spring 2022 Registration at our EBB Partner Schools

Odessa Shannon

Montgomery Village

Loiederman

Neelsville

Argyle

Roberto Clemente

Forest Oak

Francis Scot Key
Excel Beyond the Bell is currently in eight Montgomery County middle schools: Argyle in Wheaton, Roberto Clemente in Germantown, A. Mario Loiederman, Francis Scott Key in Silver Spring, Forest Oak in Gaithersburg, Neelsville in Germantown, Odessa Shannon in Silver Spring and Montgomery Village in Montgomery Village. At no cost to families, the program provides students with immediate access to after-school recreational and social programming, academic support, hot nutritional meals, and bus transportation home.
EBB is open to any student from the identified schools and operates four days a week in two sessions from the end of the school day until 5:30pm. Activities include career exploration; leadership and civic engagement; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education, creative arts; social-emotional learning; sports & physical activity; health and wellness. Through the encouragement of healthy leisure choices, students are exploring new interests, building successful positive relationships, and increasing involvement with their school and community.

Youth Sports Initiative 2021(YSI)

On September 15, 2020, the Montgomery County Council appropriated CARES Act funding to the Collaboration Council to help carry out the Youth Sports Initiative in partnership with the Montgomery County Recreation Department and Montgomery County’s Office of Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF).

Many thanks for the collaboration and support of representatives from the Montgomery County Recreation Department, Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, Montgomery County Public Schools Athletics Department, and Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Student and Family Support and Engagement (Counseling and Restorative Justice Units)–and a big thanks to Councilman Gabe Albornoz, who led the charge in funding this initiative! Our partners showcase their work here:

 COVID-19 Vaccinations for 5 to 11 Year Olds

Coming Soon! COVID-19 Vaccinations for 5 to 11 Year Olds

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 5-to-11-year-olds is expected to be authorized for emergency use in the coming days. MCPS is partnering with the county’s Department of Health and Human Services and Holy Cross Hospital to offer a number of free vaccination clinics for children at schools and county sites once the vaccine is available. Clinic dates, times and locations will be released soon. Parents/guardians who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine and would like one, or those who need a booster, will be able to do so at these clinics as well.

• Read the full message here
• Please indicate your interest in having your child vaccinated by completing this form.

---

Student Vaccination

A reminder and #repost from our partners @EveryMindInc

As summer winds down, we are prepping for a return to school and, for many, a return to in-person work at the office. Events in the news and the changing landscape of the pandemic have given us real reasons to feel an incredible range of mixed emotions. Excitement for our children to return to critical social settings. Anxiety for their safety. Relief for some normalcy. Yearning to provide our children with the tools they need to thrive.

EveryMind is here to support you and your children. Reach out to us for supportive listening and resources, including trainings to identify signs of mental health distress in your kids, yourself, and your loved ones.

Please share our hotline information with your children and teens. Many have anxieties about returning to school after nearly 18 months away, and we are here for them, too.

EveryMind Hotline Call or Text: 301.738.2255 Chat: Every-Mind.org/chat/