A drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Howard County might be small when compared to the state's mass vaccination sites, but it's key to help address the gap in Maryland's vaccine equity, officials said.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||The vaccine clinic at the parking lot of Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia grew out of a partnership with the community and the state.Dozens of volunteers worked in the rain all Wednesday afternoon to guide 200 people through the process of getting their first shot.Maryland online vaccination site locatorVaccine Data DashboardMaryland vaccination plan FAQs"I believe the clinics at a place like a faith-based organization like Bridgeway Community Church does help. People tend to trust their church," said Virginia Callahan, who is the Bridgeway Community Church GoVAX project manager."I think we're definitely making a dent, and not only are we making a dent in terms of who is vaccinated, but we're also making a dent in terms of who is getting more information," said Stephanie Farnsworth, with Bridgeway Community ChurchOrganizers and volunteers call it a crucial point of access for underserved residents and members of the multicultural church."There are people from 52 different countries that come to this church," Farnsworth said. It is also the latest in a partnership between community churches and the Maryland Vaccine Equity Task Force led by Maryland National Guard Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, who toured the operation Wednesday afternoon with Gov. Larry Hogan."This is absolutely equity, meeting people where they are, putting shots in arms in their community. This is what it's about," Birckhead said.Vaccination rates continue to lag among Black and Hispanic Marylanders. When asked what it will take to completely close the gap, Hogan said: "We're doing really well. I think we're second in America. My goal is to be No. 1. We may be No. 1 as of today as far as equity."The church has another COVID-19 vaccine clinic planned for the weekend, followed by second-dose clinics for almost 500 people.