Gov. Hogan Has Expanded COVID Booster Shot Eligibility To Some Teens

MARYLAND — After federal health officials authorized Pfizer booster shots for those ages 16 and 17 to protect them against COVID-19, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said the state would start offering them immediately to the teens.

He called it a "critical step" in protecting the state from the coronavirus.

“As we approach the holiday season, I want to again stress that getting a booster truly is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your fellow Marylanders," Hogan said Thursday, Dec. 9. “Expanding booster eligibility to include 16- and 17-year-olds is another critical step to getting more Marylanders fully protected."

Allowing more people to get boosters comes nearly a week after the first cases of the omicron variant were detected in Maryland and as hospitalizations have sharply increased, Hogan said.

As of Thursday, 984 people were hospitalized with coronavirus, according to the Maryland Department of Health. One month ago, there were 529 COVID-19 hospitalizations.

"The convergence of the flu and the delta and omicron variants could lead to further spiking metrics and hospitalizations," Hogan said at a news conference Thursday, noting health officials are preparing.

Omicron is believed to be four times as transmissible as other types of coronavirus, Hogan said.

Three residents in the Baltimore metropolitan area were the state's first cases of the omicron variant, officials confirmed last week.

"It is anticipated to rapidly overtake delta as the main driver of new cases over the next 12 weeks," Hogan said, noting it has been detected in Maryland and 18 other states plus 50 countries.

Preliminary data shows booster shots "provide protection against the omicron variant, which makes it more important that every single Marylander who is eligible for a booster shot should get a booster shot," Hogan said.

Boosters are needed as immunity to the virus wanes over time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maryland has given nearly 1.2 million booster shots, including to about half the state's eligible seniors, officials reported Thursday.

Now, all people age 16 and up are eligible for a booster, six months after a two-dose series or two months after a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

Those who want to get a vaccine or booster can visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call the state’s multilingual call center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Schools, community groups and organizations can request a GoVAX mobile clinic online.

See Also: Omicron Variant In MD: Gov. Hogan Urges Boosters By Dec. 11