MD Ensures COVID-19 Vaccine Access Amid Shifting Federal Guidelines

As confusion grows around who can and cannot receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, Maryland officials recently said they plan to protect access to the shot for all residents who want to receive one.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved new versions of the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and BioNTech and from Moderna, the companies announced. The newest versions are designed to target the LP.8.1 sublineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the most recent variant that has been spreading in Virginia.

However, pharmacists are still awaiting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on who should receive the vaccine.

In recent years, the committee met earlier in the summer so that shots were available ahead of the winter respiratory season, according to previous reports. This year, the committee isn't scheduled to meet until Sept. 18.

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When the FDA approved the updated vaccines, it also altered its policy on who can receive one.

Under federal guidelines, updated vaccines will only be available to people age 65 or older, the FDA said. Those 64 or younger can only receive the vaccines if they have at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19, the FDA said. Officials have not specified which conditions qualify.

Until recently, the CDC, following recommendations by infectious disease experts, urged annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.

In new guidance released Wednesday, the Maryland Department of Health said state residents 6 months and older will continue to have access to a COVID-19 vaccine if they want one. A 2024 Maryland law allows pharmacists to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription to anyone 3 years and older.

Last week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said state officials will continue to use science-based guidance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. According to Moore, Marylanders can continue to access vaccines at provider offices and pharmacies across the state, provided vaccines are available.

“The federal government’s rapid changes and unnecessary swirl around vaccine policy are harmful for Marylanders and all Americans, and could result in disastrous public health outcomes,” Moore said. “The health, safety and well-being of Marylanders and their loved ones are our North Star, and we will do everything in our power to ensure they have access to life-saving medicines like vaccines.”

The new Maryland guidelines follow weeks of uncertainty on who can and cannot receive the updated vaccine.

In May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children may get the shots, but that there was no longer a “should” recommendation.

The ACIP was set to make recommendations about the fall shots in June. Among the options the panel was considering was to suggest shots for high-risk groups, but still give lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.

But Kennedy bypassed the group and also decided to dismiss the 17-member panel, instead appointing his own, smaller panel that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later excluded the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations.

The FDA's policy change is expected to go to the vaccine advisory committee, which will make the final recommendation on who should get the shots.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.