November 16, 2021

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Deidre McCabe, Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-3536

Andy Owen, Deputy Director, Media Relations 410-767-6491

PHOTO RELEASE: MDH Deputy Secretary Chan and partners from UMMS and Johns Hopkins visit new State Center COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site

Baltimore, MD – Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan today visited the new state-run State Center COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site located at 300 W. Preston. Dr. Chan was joined by partners from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM).

“As we prepare for the holiday season, community vaccination and testing resources like this are particularly important,” said Dr. Chan. “This partnership with UMMS and Johns Hopkins has allowed us to continue to offer testing and vaccination services to Baltimore residents at a time when getting 5- to 11-year-old Marylanders vaccinated – and making sure our remaining adults have completed their vaccinations – is crucial.”

​The State Center COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site is housed in a structure that was custom built for vaccine and test administration.

The State Center COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site opened last Saturday morning with a vaccination clinic that served 170 patients, including 70 children ages 5 to 11.

The new site continues the vaccine and testing operations formerly housed at the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital (BCCFH). The joint team operating the site is known as the BCCFH COVID Task Force.

Visitors can easily access the site by using public transportation, including bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, and MTA MobilityLink. There is also on-street parking available nearby.

L to R: Dr. Mindy Kantsiper of Johns Hopkins Medicine; Dr. Chuck Callahan of UMMS; Dr. Jinlene Chan of MDH; Dr. Lisa Ishii of Johns Hopkins Medicine; and Dr. Charles Locke of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

“It has been an honor for our team to build this partnership for the past 20 months,” said Chuck Callahan, DO, Director of the BCCFH COVID Task Force and Vice President of Population Health for the University of Maryland Medical Center. “By being located in the Midtown community, we are even better positioned to support the city and region’s vaccination and testing needs.”

Spiderman set an example for all by getting a COVID-19 vaccine during a special visit to the new State Center COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site on its first day of operation.

As of today, over 64,000 Marylanders between the ages of 5 and 11 have received a COVID-19 vaccination. 

“The fact that so many Marylanders have already gotten vaccinated has made a significant difference in our communities,” said Kevin W. Sowers, MSN, RN, FAAN, president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “We are pleased to continue to partner to offer free COVID testing and vaccines to support our collective efforts to move forward, together.”

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The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement.