With $1.8 million in federal funds, Maryland makes bigger-than-usual push for back-to-school vaccines

Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore — and Tucker, Maryland’s squirmy first dog — appeared this week in the first of a series of public awareness videos from the state’s health department designed to encourage parents and caregivers to make sure their children are up-to-date on their back-to-school vaccinations. Although the Maryland Department of Health typically promotes similar advice to families each fall, the video — posted Thursday on the health department’s social media pages — signifies the start to a larger-than-usual push, health department spokesperson Chase Cook said in an email.