Governor Moore Launches Free Adult Vaccine Program to Expand Immunization Access for Uninsured and Underinsured MarylandersANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced a first-of-its kind adult vaccine program to expand access to critical immunizations for uninsured and underinsured Marylanders. Administered by the Maryland Department of Health, the program will provide
recommended vaccines for free to Marylanders aged 19 and older at local health departments across the state.
“Nobody should be denied basic health care because of an inability to pay,” said Gov. Moore. “At a time when the federal government is undermining public health and creating unnecessary confusion around vaccine policy, Maryland is investing, leading with science, and stepping up to make sure our people are protected.”
The program, made possible through $2.8 million allocated in partnership with the Maryland General Assembly, will allow local health departments to provide state-purchased vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, measles, pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus, and shingles. The increased vaccine supply will allow public health workers to quickly respond to disease outbreaks and better protect Marylanders.
“Maryland continues to be a national leader in fighting for vaccine access for all of its residents,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “Providing access to vaccines for those without healthcare coverage will strengthen our collective efforts to address ongoing disparities in access to critical public health services.”
As the respiratory virus season unfolds, access to recommended vaccines is especially important to mitigate the serious impacts illness can have on Maryland communities. A wide range of respiratory and non-respiratory vaccine-preventable diseases continue to pose a risk to public health.
The 2024-2025 respiratory virus season saw nearly 5,000 Marylanders hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19, more than 8,000 with lab-confirmed flu, and more than 2,600 with lab-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus. Serious vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases, such as pertussis and pneumococcal pneumonia, also contribute to hospitalizations and long-term illness across the state.
“Vaccines continue to be one of the most powerful and effective tools to protect against severe illness and keep communities healthy,” said Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan. “The Maryland Vaccine Program is an important initiative that will directly contribute to healthier, safer communities in Maryland.”
According to the recently-launched
Maryland Combined Respiratory Illness Dashboard, overall respiratory activity in Maryland is still low, meaning Marylanders have time to get vaccinated before the season progresses and activity peaks.
To receive vaccines through the Maryland Vaccine Program, eligible Marylanders can contact their
local health department to check availability, or visit the
health.maryland.gov for additional information. Currently, vaccines are accessible through the local health departments in four counties: Baltimore, Garrett, Montgomery, and Somerset. Availability will expand to other counties over the following weeks.
Maryland is among the states with the broadest vaccine access in the country,
according to Kaiser Family Foundation analysis. One of the Maryland Department of Health’s strategic goals this year is to maintain the high vaccine coverage we’ve seen in Maryland in recent years. Vaccines are available for uninsured and underinsured children in Maryland through the
Vaccines for Children Program.
The Maryland Department of Health has taken other important steps to ensure broad vaccine access for Marylanders for the 2025-2026 respiratory season, including:
To help advance broad vaccine access across the state, Maryland this year joined the bipartisan Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a partnership with other states and jurisdictions working to protect the health, safety and well-being of its communities. Part of the collaborative’s work includes developing recommendations based on scientific evidence, and fighting to ensure broad access to quality care and evidence-based guidance.
