Baltimore City is contracting with a downtown health clinic to offer free monkeypox vaccines. Nomi Health was awarded a contract worth about $1 million to vaccinate 800 city residents who have already registered for a monkeypox vaccine at its clinic located at 419 West Baltimore Street. The city previously contracted with Nomi Health to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Baltimore City officials said that it’s the next step in their public health strategy.
“We’re now at the stage where we’re able to redistribute the vaccine to partners,” said Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, Baltimore City’s Health Commissioner and a pediatrician.
For months, the city focused on one-time vaccination events and administering the vaccine to high-risk individuals. The partnership expands the city’s capacity to reach more residents seeking the vaccine, Dzirasa said.
Monkeypox is a virus that spreads between people through direct contact with skin lesions. Symptoms may include a fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and potentially rashes and lesions on the face and hands. Some people may require hospitalization but most recover within a month.
Baltimore City accounts for about one-third of cases statewide with 225 confirmed cases between June and October.
