ANNAPOLIS, MD—In response to widespread confusion over existing federal guidance, Governor Larry Hogan today announced the current status of COVID-19 booster shot eligibility in the State of Maryland, and strongly encouraged those Marylanders who are eligible to immediately get their booster shot.
“If you are confused about boosters, you are not alone,” said Governor Hogan. “In spite of that, Maryland health officials and our state team have spent the last several months building the infrastructure for a statewide operation for boosters. We have also already launched a vigorous outreach effort for those Marylanders who are currently eligible for a booster shot.”
Watch today’s press conference.
View the slides from today’s press conference.
Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Eligibility. Approximately 500,000 Marylanders who fall into the following categories are currently eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot:
Pfizer Eligibility
Moderna Eligibility
Johnson & Johnson Eligibility
COVID-19 Booster Outreach Operation. The State of Maryland has administered over 78,000 COVID-19 booster shots and has launched a vigorous outreach effort for those Marylanders who are currently eligible.
Next Steps on Vaccinating 5- to 11-Year-Olds. Governor Hogan directed state health officials to work closely with pediatricians, school systems, and local health departments to advance and accelerate their operation plans for vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds. This week, Pfizer submitted data to the FDA showing that its vaccination is safe and effective for children, and approval is expected by the end of October.
Update on K-12 School Testing Program. Last year, Maryland introduced a statewide testing program for schools, making up to 1 million tests available immediately for both public and nonpublic schools. The following resources are currently available:
Surveillance Testing
Rapid Tests
Emergency Legislation to Increase Nursing Workforce. Governor Hogan announced that he will introduce emergency legislation to maximize the ability of state hospitals to increase their nursing workforce. This legislation would make permanent a number of the steps the governor announced last week to mitigate staffing shortages.
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Available. The State of Maryland has administered more than 13,000 monoclonal antibody treatments, which have helped avoid approximately 600 hospitalizations and more than 250 deaths. These treatments are available at more than 80 facilities statewide, and state health officials have directed clinicians to step up their utilization of monoclonal antibodies. To learn more, visit covidlink.maryland.gov.
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