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

MARYLAND — As the omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads in the United States and in Maryland, federal and state officials are encouraging vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19, including getting booster shots.

Three residents in the Baltimore metropolitan area were the state’s first confirmed cases of the omicron variant, the governor confirmed Dec. 3.

The omicron variant spreads more easily than the original virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently, the CDC is still studying the variant, which has circulated in more than 50 countries and was first confirmed in the United States on Dec. 1.

"The single most important thing you can do to maintain your immunity against this virus and its variants is to get your booster shot,” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement last week.

Hogan urged people to get their booster shots by Dec. 11 to protect themselves before Christmas. Boosters are needed as immunity to the virus wanes over time, according to the CDC, which states the vaccines take two weeks to become effective.

Getting a booster dose appears to offer increased protection against omicron, one vaccine manufacturer reported Wednesday.

“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said, “protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine.”

The CDC recommends people age 18 and up get a COVID-19 booster shot at these times:

• 6 months after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine
• 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine

To find one, the CDC offers a COVID-19 vaccine or booster locator.

“Throughout this entire year, we have repeatedly stressed that we are in a race between the vaccines and the variants,” Hogan said in a statement. “We cannot become complacent, and we do need to remain vigilant.”

In the last week, more than 180 people have been hospitalized statewide with the coronavirus, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Currently, the delta variant of the virus remains the most widely circulating one nationwide, officials say.

As of Wednesday, 925 people are in Maryland hospitals with COVID-19, state health officials say.

A month ago — as of Nov. 8 — officials said 394 people were hospitalized with the virus statewide.

Having a new, more transmissible variant as coronavirus is already spreading during the holiday season could be a "perfect storm" for Maryland, a Johns Hopkins lung expert told WMAR.

While COVID-19 vaccines do not reduce transmission of the virus, they can reduce the severity of the illness caused by coronavirus. About 17 percent of COVID-19 cases in Maryland since January 2021 have been among fully vaccinated individuals, according to state health officials.

"We urge Marylanders to continue taking precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe," Hogan said. "Getting a vaccine or a booster shot is the single most important thing that you can do to protect yourself and those around you."

Visit covidvax.maryland.gov to find a vaccine in Maryland or call the state's multilingual COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Pfizer is currently working on an omicron-based vaccine, which it expects to offer in March 2022 pending regulatory approval.

See Also:

• Omicron Variant Confirmed In 3 Maryland Residents: Governor
• Rapid At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits In MD: Hogan Distributing 500K
• Pfizer Says COVID-19 Booster Protects Against Omicron