All hospitals and nursing homes in Maryland will have initial doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine in the next two weeks, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Tuesday.

During a press conference, Hogan called the availability of the vaccine the “light at the end of a very long tunnel.” He said the state expects to have received a total of about 300,000 doses by the end of the month.

But he also asked Maryland residents for patience, as it could be a while before most can get the vaccine.

“We estimate that there's roughly 800,000 to 850,000 people in phase one,” said Jinlene Chan, deputy secretary for public health services at the Maryland Department of Health. “To be able to move beyond phase one, it will take close to probably a million doses.”

Phase one includes healthcare workers, first responders and staff and residents at assisted living facilities.

On Tuesday, State Schools Superintendent Karen Salmon called for teachers, school staff and childcare workers to get priority.

“We care about all of our education and child care professionals, many of whom have continued to work on the frontline throughout the pandemic, and we are requesting that they be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine in the earliest stages of distribution to essential employees,” Salmon wrote in a statement.

Hogan said they, along with other “essential workers,” will be included in the second phase of vaccine distribution.