Hogan Monitoring Omicron Variant, Urges Marylanders To Get Vaccine + Booster Shot

MARYLAND — Maryland is keeping an eye on the new omicron variant of the coronavirus. Leaders renewed their inoculation push in light of the highly transmissible variant, which may be more likely to reinfect patients who have already recovered from COVID-19.

Gov. Larry Hogan got a briefing Monday morning from the state’s COVID-19 Response Team. He said the Maryland Department of Health is monitoring the situation and will give more information as it becomes available.

"While there is still much unknown about the Omicron variant and how it will spread, the most important thing Marylanders can do right now is to get vaccinated or get a booster shot," Hogan wrote in a press release. "It is the best way to maintain your immunity and protect yourself and your family from severe illness."

The World Health Organization warned last week that omicron could pose greater risks than delta, which is the world's most common variant. The United States responded by restricting travel from South Africa, where the omicron variant has gained steam, and seven of its surrounding countries.

Still, the WHO warned residents not to overreact until scientists learn more about the variant. Hogan echoed similar cautions, reminding Marylanders of the importance of testing as the pandemic continues.

"Our state continues to have one of the most robust testing surveillance systems in the country to identify and track variants," the governor said. "Maryland has led throughout the pandemic by listening to the experts and by following the science, and that is exactly what we will continue to do."

Vaccine Push

Nearly 4.1 million Marylanders are fully immunized. Almost 89 percent of adult residents have gotten at least one dose. The state has also administered about 968,000 booster shots.

Any fully vaccinated adult is eligible for a booster. Those who got the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna inoculations must wait six months from their second injection to get the additional dose. Those who took the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have to wait two months after their single dose.

The Pfizer immunization is the only one with full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That approval is good for residents 16 and up. Pfizer also has emergency-use authorization for anybody aged 5 to 15.

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson inoculations have emergency-use authorization for locals 18 and up.

Emergency-use authorization requires less FDA review than full approval, which is the golden stamp of support from regulators.

Residents can book a vaccine by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling Maryland's multilingual call center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

The state has a case rate of 14.29 new infections per day per 100,000 residents. The positivity rate is 4.76 percent. Maryland currently has 621 hospitalized coronavirus patients, 172 of which are in the intensive care unit. The state has reported 10,957 total deaths.

Health officials update the coronavirus metrics daily at coronavirus.maryland.gov.

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RELATED:

• WHO Says Omicron Variant Has Mutations That Are 'Concerning'
• Worrisome Omicron COVID Variant Rattles World Leaders: Here's Why
• New Omicron Variant Stokes World Fears, Triggers Travel Bans
• New COVID-19 Variant In South Africa: Explainer

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