Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $1M to Safeguard Free COVID Vaccinations for Uninsured, Underinsured

US Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone, and Glenn Ivey announced $934,965 in US Department of Health funding for Maryland health centers to provide no-cost COVID-19 vaccines.

“The pandemic exposed many gaps and shortfalls in vaccine accessibility, especially for the millions of Americans who are under or uninsured,” said the lawmakers.“As COVID-19 cases start to rise again this fall, this funding will help more Marylanders get vaccinated and provide them with the best defense against the virus, bolstering overall community health.”

The funding is from the United States Department of Health and Human Services fiscal 2023 Bridge Access Program. The federal funds will provide continued free coverage for Marylanders who would have otherwise lost access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines now that the distribution of vaccines has transitioned to the commercial market.

  • Baltimore City
    • $154,661, Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc.
    • $134,957, Baltimore Medical System, Inc.
    • $86,646, Health Care for the Homeless, Inc.
    • $53,566, Total Health Care, Inc.
    • $24,868, Park Health Systems Inc.
    • $20,279, Family Health Centers of Baltimore Inc.
  • Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel Counties
    • $11,055, Owensville Primary Care, Inc. in Anne Arundel County
    • $154,177, The Community Clinic, Inc. in Montgomery County
    • $44,285, Mobile Medical Care, Inc. in Montgomery County
    • $63,401, Greater Baden Medical Service Inc. in Prince George’s County
  • Western Maryland
    • $22,020 City of Frederick in Frederick County
    • $19,426, Walnut Street Community Health Center, Inc. in Washington County
    • $17,143, Tri-State Community Health Center in Washington County
    • $15,886, Western Maryland Health Care Corporation in Garrett County
  • Eastern Shore
    • $55,826, Choptank Community Health System, Inc. in Caroline County
    • $41,125, Three Lower Counties Community Services, Inc. in Wicomico County
    • $15,644, West Cecil Health Center, Inc. in Cecil County

The Bridge Access Program is designed as a “temporary bridge” to vaccination access and is set to expire in December 2024.

For more information on the Bridge Access Program, visit CDC’s website. Later this week, vaccines.gov will be updated with COVID-19 vaccine availability as the vaccine is distributed.