One of the state’s first, and most popular, COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites will move from the Baltimore Convention Center in downtown to the State Center complex to the north, effective Saturday.
The new site at 300 W. Preston St., will continue to offer free testing and vaccinations, according to the Maryland Department of Health. It will continue to be run by the state health department in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The convention center site’s last day was Friday. It has been slated to closed before the year’s end and returned to use hosting meetings and events. It recently moved some services outside under tents.
State officials said it was important to maintain access to testing and vaccinations, especially as eligibility for the inoculations expanded recently to 5 to 11 year olds.
“Our commitment to providing accessible vaccination and testing services has never been stronger, and the important work we have done in this partnership continues uninterrupted at the new State Center site,” said state Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader in a statement. “With vaccinations for all Marylanders five years old and older now available, this site will be an important part of keeping Baltimore City residents protected from COVID-19.”
The State Center COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site will offer Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to the younger children by appointment only. To book a time slot go to umms.org/bccvaccine. Walk-up vaccines will be available to those age 12 and older.
After Saturday’s opening, the weekly schedule for free testing and vaccination services will include:
- Vaccinations on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with appointments required for children ages 5 to 11 but walk-ups welcome to those 12 and older.
- Testing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The monoclonal antibody treatment that has been offered at the convention center already moved to the UMMC Modular Care Unit on 110 S. Paca St. Infusions are available by appointment Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The treatment is available to those who recently testing positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to COVID-19. They can be referred by a doctor or self-refer. Providers can refer online at umms.org/icreferral and self-referrals can complete a form at umms.org/bccinfusion or by calling 410-649-6122.
Those with questions about testing, vaccinations or the monoclonal antibody treatment can call 410-649-6200.