COVID-19 Vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents 12 to 15 years of age. All Marylanders 12 and older are eligible for vaccination. Directly schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination site or find a pharmacy, hospital or local health department near you to make an appointment.
Maryland COVID-19 vaccine priority groups
Maryland is distributing the vaccines to Marylanders based on relative risk of exposure or developing serious illness.
Individuals included in earlier priority groups will be given priority to be vaccinated.
WE ARE IN PHASE 3: ALL MARYLANDERS 12+ ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE
Phase 1A
Health care workers
Residents and staff of nursing homes
First responders, public safety, corrections
Phase 1B
Assisted living, other congregate settings
Adults age 75 and older
Education and continuity of government
Phase 1C
Adults age 65-74
Essential workers in lab services, agriculture, manufacturing, postal service
Phase 2B
Marylanders ages 16+ with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19 illness
Marylanders ages 16+ with disabilities who are receiving SSI or SSDI benefits, Maryland Medicaid EID individuals, Maryland Medicaid REM recipients, and Marylanders receiving TDAP benefits
Marylanders receiving long term services and supports through the state’s Medicaid waiver and state plan services (learn more)
Phase 2C
Marylanders 55 and older
Essential workers in critical industries, including construction workers, food services, utilities, transportation, financial services, IT and other infrastructure (learn more)
*Maryland is currently in this stage
What are the vaccines?
| Vaccines | Status | Dosing | Efficacy | Potential Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pfizer | Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use | Two doses, delivered three weeks apart | 95% effective at preventing serious illness | Injection-site pain, fatigue, headaches, chills |
| Moderna | Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use | Two doses, delivered four weeks apart | 94.1% effective at preventing serious illness | Injection-site pain, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, chills |
| Johnson & Johnson | Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use | One Dose | 85% effective at preventing severe illness | Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain |
| Novavax | Vaccine trials are ongoing | Two doses, delivered three weeks apart | – | Injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle pain, fever |
| AstraZeneca | Vaccine trials are ongoing | Two doses, delivered four weeks apart | – | Fever, muscle aches, headaches, injection site pain |
Schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination site
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents 12 to 15 years of age. Marylanders 12 and older are eligible for vaccination. Most of Maryland’s mass vaccination sites now offer the Pfizer vaccine.
Why should you get the vaccine?
Protective
The vaccines provide protection from serious COVID-19 illness.
Promising results
Early clinical trials show the vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness.
Pandemic-ending
The vaccines are the best path forward to ending the pandemic.
Minimal side effects
Most of the participants in clinical trials had minimal side effects. The most common were soreness at injection site, fever, or body aches.
Resources about the COVID vaccine
Available resources will evolve as the Maryland vaccination effort moves forward.
Please check our resources page regularly for information and updates.
