Maryland Governor Wes Moore has launched a new statewide vaccine program to help uninsured and underinsured adults get free immunizations. The initiative, announced Thursday, aims to make lifesaving vaccines accessible to every Marylander, as health care costs are expected to rise dramatically next year.
The Maryland Department of Health will oversee the program through local health departments. It will provide free vaccines to adults aged 19 and older who don’t have health insurance or whose coverage is limited. State officials say the effort will help reduce preventable illnesses and hospitalizations across Maryland.
“Nobody should be denied basic health care because of an inability to pay,” Moore said in a statement. “While federal leaders are spreading confusion about vaccines, Maryland is choosing science, investing in public health, and protecting our people.”
The $2.8 million program is funded by a partnership with the Maryland General Assembly. It will offer vaccines for diseases including COVID-19, influenza, measles, pneumonia, shingles, and RSV. By maintaining a steady vaccine supply, local health workers will be better equipped to respond quickly to outbreaks.
Health Secretary Meena Seshamani said the program strengthens Maryland’s ongoing efforts to expand vaccine access. “Helping people without coverage get vaccinated will reduce disparities and improve community health,” she said.
Last season, respiratory infections hospitalized thousands of Marylanders — nearly 5,000 for COVID-19, more than 8,000 for the flu, and about 2,600 for RSV, according to the governor’s office. Other vaccine-preventable illnesses like whooping cough and pneumococcal pneumonia also continue to affect residents statewide.
“Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools to prevent severe illness and keep communities healthy,” said Meg Sullivan, deputy secretary for Public Health Services. “This program will directly build safer, stronger communities across Maryland.”
According to the state’s new Combined Respiratory Illness Dashboard, respiratory virus activity remains low, giving residents time to get their shots before peak flu season. Vaccines are now available through local health departments in Baltimore, Garrett, Montgomery, and Somerset counties, with more sites opening soon.
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