The vaccine requirements will remain for students because they must be vaccinated to participate in experiential learning experiences in the community and interact with individual patients. “So to see them reduce one standard, but not increase other safety standards, or come to us to negotiate it is really disappointing.” “We're seeing tons of our members at the universities in the state still getting sick and being obligated for their safety and the safety of others, to miss five to 10 days of work regularly,” Katzenburg said. “I think it's more helping people understand the potential risk in different situations, so that people can make the best decision for themselves, based on their own personal risk and their own tolerance for risk,” Cloeren said.īut changing a public safety policy while transmission of COVID-19 is still happening worldwide is a risk, the union counters. The University of Maryland Baltimore's public health officer said that understanding risk is key for any employee with health concerns or fears about workplace safety. Leaving the union out of the decision process is “seemingly another act of bad faith by one of the many administrations in the USM by not bargaining with workers about their health and safety,” said Stuart Katzenburg, director of collective bargaining and growth strategies for AFSCME council 3. Before the university’s announcement, the union was unaware of any upcoming changes to work conditions. The employee union which represents workers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and other employers, The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has pushed for COVID-19 prevention measures during the pandemic.

Frostburg State University “strongly encourages” COVID-19 vaccines, according to its website but did not respond to further questions. The University of Baltimore, dropped vaccine requirements and testing in June, but did not respond to requests for comment. Towson University no longer requires COVID-19 vaccines and masks are also optional. Coppin State went mask optional in March but required vaccinations for students on campus during the spring. Each university across the state college system has the authority to make COVID-19 precautions and requirements.Ĭoppin State University and Towson State University declined to comment for this story. But the University of Maryland main campus in College park is keeping its vaccination proof requirements this year. As a result, the system achieved a vaccination rate of roughly 90%, according to the university system.

Last year, all 12 schools across the University System of Maryland required COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. Masks have been optional for students, employees, faculty and visitors since March this year with the exception of individuals working in clinical settings. “The high levels of immunity, I think, made it less imperative to require vaccinations for everybody,” Cloeren said.

Beyond that, the campus has historically low employee turnover. Marianne Cloeren, public health officer for UMB. University of Maryland Baltimore officials were confident it was the right decision to drop the vaccination requirement since it already has an “extremely high vaccination rate” said Dr. The COVID-19 positivity rate across Maryland is 11.46% compared to roughly 4% in August 2021, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Last fall the college had 7,200 students enrolled. Thousands of students attending the university are still required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a qualifying exemption such as religious beliefs. Employees who work in clinical settings must adhere to any requirements of the site, which includes COVID-19 vaccination at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Several universities across the state have already adopted similar rules as students return to classes for the fall semester in the coming weeks. The move affects more than 10,000 individuals with ties to the college.

Talk to your health care provider many are planning to offer the vaccine to priority patients when they can get it.The University of Maryland Baltimore dropped COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all of its faculty, staff and contractors who work on campus at the beginning of August.

Veterans enrolled in Veteran Affairs Healthcare: Washington DC VA Medical Center or Martinsburg VA Medical Center.

Pharmacies with online scheduling: Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Safeway, Giant Pharmacy, Walmart, Sam's Club.

You will need to contact the clinic indicated to schedule an appointment and then the clinic will verify your eligibility to be vaccinated.

Use Maryland’s vaccination site locator, including hospitals, local health departments and pharmacies.

The links and phone numbers for each Maryland county are listed in the next section (alphabetically)

Call the State Vaccine Support Center at 1-85.

Preregister for state mass vaccination sites here.

Maryland covid 19 vaccine sign up