Md. healthcare centers receive $935K in federal funding to provide free COVID-19 vaccines
Credit: ABC7 News
ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — A group of Maryland lawmakers announced $934,965 in U.S. Department of Health funding for Maryland healthcare centers to provide COVID-19 vaccines at no cost.
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) made the announcement Monday.
“The pandemic exposed many gaps and shortfalls in vaccine accessibility for the millions of Americans who are under or uninsured,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “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 announcement comes a week after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted to recommend a new COVID-19 booster for Americans ages six months and older.
The booster is expected to be available later this week.
The funding was made available through the United States Department of Health and Human Services Fiscal Year 2023 Bridge Access Program, according to the group of lawmakers.
The federal funds will be used to ensure that all Marylanders, regardless of insurance status, have access to COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Bridge Access program is designed as a “temporary bridge” to vaccination access and is set to expire in December 2024.
The following entities received funding:
- Baltimore Medical System, Inc. received $134,957
- Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc. received $154,661
- Choptank Community Health System, Inc. in Caroline County received $55,826
- Family Health Centers of Baltimore Inc. received $20,279
- Greater Baden Medical Service Inc. in Prince George’s County received $63,401
- Health Care for the Homeless, Inc. received $86,646
- Mobile Medical Care, Inc. in Montgomery County received $44,285
- Owensville Primary Care, Inc. In Anne Arundel County received $11,055
- Park Health Systems Inc. received $24,868
- The Community Clinic, Inc. in Montgomery County received $154,177
- The City of Frederick in Frederick County received $22,020
- Three Lower Counties Community Services, Inc. in Wicomico County received $41,125
- Total Health Care, Inc. received $53,566
- Tri-State Community Health Center in Washington County received $17,143
- Walnut Street Community Health Center, Inc. in Washington County received $19,426
- Western Maryland Health Care Corporation in Garrett County received $15,886
- West Cecil Health Center, Inc. in Cecil County received $15,644
