BCHD and its partners will continue to provide Baltimore residents and underserved communities free vaccines and take-home tests, regardless of health insurance status.BCHD received funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that will enable it to continue many COVID-19 related services into 2024.For young children, multiple doses continue to be recommended and will vary by age, vaccine, and whichever vaccines they previously received.Those who are aged 6 years and older who have already received an updated mRNA vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years and older or immunocompromised. The CDC continues to recommend that everyone aged 6 years and older receive an updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.The monovalent (original) COVID-19 mRNA vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States.Adults aged 65 and older and the immunocompromised are eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose, at least four months after their initial updated (bivalent) vaccine dose.Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that vulnerable Americans are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination booster this spring. But our mission to protect health and eliminate disparities continues." That is why the Baltimore City Health Department will continue many of the COVID-19-related services that residents depend on, including providing free vaccinations and take-home tests. "The end of the COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency does not mean the end of COVID-19 or its risk to the unvaccinated, under-vaccinated, and Baltimore's most vulnerable residents. But if you are not fully vaccinated, COVID-19 still poses a serious risk of severe disease, hospitalization, or even death."Īccording to Mary Beth Haller, Acting Baltimore City Health Commissioner: And most importantly, if you are not vaccinated or up to date on your vaccinations, please take advantage of Baltimore's free COVID-19 vaccine services.įor those who are fully vaccinated, the end of the National Public Health Emergency means we can now return to most of our favorite activities without fear or disruption. If you do have COVID-19, you should isolate according to medical guidelines. That means that if you experience COVID-19 symptoms, you should test yourself immediately. And the best way to honor those we lost is to continue making smart and healthy decisions to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and the most vulnerable among us. However, COVID-19 has not entirely gone away. And without similar efforts across the country, the National Public Health Emergency would still be ongoing. Without the tireless work of Baltimore's residents and institutions, we could not have gotten to this point as a city. That is why today is a turning point in our history and one we should all be proud of. In the time since, millions were forced to pause their lives while millions tragically lost their lives. "Three years ago, the world was held captive by the deadliest pandemic in more than a century. Letitia Dzirasa, Interim Baltimore City Deputy Mayor and former Baltimore City Health Commissioner: Together, let us prove how strong we remain."Īccording to Dr. It's been a long three years for Baltimore, but a resilient three years. To keep Baltimore safe, we must continue to make smart health decisions, which includes listening to medical guidelines and staying up to date on COVID-19 boosters. COVID-19 is still the third leading cause of death for the third year in a row. The end of the National Public Health Emergency is therefore a significant achievement, but one we must not take for granted. And when we fight together, there's no challenge we cannot face. When we face a challenge, we fight it together. That is the power of the community we've built. But in Baltimore, we've overcome the worst of COVID-19 through the courage of our residents and the strength of our institutions. The global pandemic has been marked by death, doubt, and disease. "As a lifelong Baltimore resident, I've never been prouder of my home than in the last three years. In response, the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) released the following statements:Īccording to Brandon M. This comes on the heels of the World Health Organization's (WHO) announcement that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency. (Wednesday, May 10, 2023) - The Biden Administration has announced that tomorrow, Thursday, May 11, 2023, marks the official end of the COVID-19 National Public Health Emergency (PHE).
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