ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Millions of Marylanders have already rolled up their sleeves and gotten vaccinated against COVID-19, keeping the state among those with the highest vaccination rates. Now that the CDC has approved booster shots for certain eligible populations who originally received Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots, Gov. Larry Hogan is providing guidance on who in the state should consider the shot.
So far, Maryland has given out 280,000 booster shots, and with the new CDC approvals for Moderna and J&J recipients, 1.4 million more residents are eligible.
"We have a robust network of vaccination providers, including pharmacies, primary care providers, mobile clinics, local health departments and community health centers," Hogan said. "And we have both the supply and the capacity to provide a booster shot to anyone who needs one."
Mixing and match booster shots -- aka getting a Pfizer booster even if you originally got Moderna -- has also been approved by the CDC.
Here's who is currently eligible to get a booster shot:
According to the governor, post-vaccination hospitalizations have occurred in just 0.055% of vaccinated Marylanders, and post-vaccination deaths have occurred in just 0.007% of vaccinated residents.
"From day one of the crisis, our focus has always been on preventing hospitalizations and deaths," Hogan said. "And these vaccines have all proven to be extremely effective at this."
However, state data is showing that the vaccine's protection wanes after about five or six months, especially for those who are immunocompromised, thus the recommended booster shots, to re-up the protection.
"More than half of our COVID deaths over the last month are linked to hypertension and diabetes, cancer, obesity and chronic lung disease and other leading comorbidities among COVID deaths in Maryland," Hogan said.
State health officials have issued an advisory strongly urging people with the following comorbidities to get a booster dose as soon as possible:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Dementia or other neurological conditions
- Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions
- HIV infection
- Immunocompromised state
- Mental health conditions
- Overweight/obesity
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking (current or former)
- Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Stroke or cerebrovascular disease disease
- Substance use disorders
- Tuberculosis
For further information on whether you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot in Maryland, visit the state's new portal here.
The governor also noted that the state is completing its final preparations to be able to vaccinate children, once the CDC approves vaccines for kids ages 5-12.
"We anticipate that CDC authorization could come as early as next week, which will make 515,000 Maryland children are immediately eligible for a vaccine," Hogan said. "State health officials have begun placing orders for an initial 180,000 Pfizer doses for children ... There will be a wide range of options for getting children vaccinated, and we will be providing additional updates to make sure that parents have all of the information that they need."