COVID-19 Vaccine
All Marylanders 6 months and older are eligible for a COVID-19 primary vaccine series. Vaccinations are available through pediatricians and other physicians, hospitals, local health departments, and pharmacies.
Please see the CDC website for the current eligibility criteria for available COVID-19 boosters. Individuals are encouraged to speak with their providers about their options, to check their eligibility, and can call 855-MDGOVAX or visit maryland.gov to schedule an appointment at a location close to them.
Find a vaccination clinic near you
The Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval for the Pfizer vaccine for individuals ages 12 and older and full approval for the Moderna vaccine for ages 18 and older. Emergency use authorizations for the Pfizer and Moderna monovalent vaccines are in effect for individuals 6 months through 11 for Pfizer, and 6 months through 17 for Moderna. Emergency use authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent vaccines are in effect for eligible Marylanders 6mos+.
Emergency use authorization for the Novavax vaccine as a primary vaccination series and booster is also in effect for individuals 18 and older. All Marylanders 6 months and older are eligible for initial COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccinations are available through pediatricians and other physicians, hospitals, local health departments and pharmacies.
What are the vaccines?
CDC has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines with a preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). Learn more.
| Vaccines | Status | Dosing | Potential Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pfizer | Original, monovalent vaccine has been approved for use as a primary series for ages 12+; monovalent (first and second shot) and bivalent third shot authorized for emergency use for ages 6 months to 11 years as a primary series; bivalent booster dose authorized for emergency use for ages 5+, and as a booster for ages 6 months to 4 years if the primary series was monovalent. | Primary series 6mos-4: three doses: doses one and two delivered three weeks apart; third primary shot will be bivalent and given at least 8 weeks after the second dose.
Primary series 5+: two doses, delivered three to eight weeks apart Bivalent booster: For ages 5+, single dose given at least 2 months after completing primary vaccine series or last monovalent booster received; for ages 6 months to 4 years, single dose given at least 2 months after monovalent primary series. |
Injection-site pain, fatigue, headaches, chills |
| Moderna | Original, monovalent vaccine has been approved for use as a primary series for ages 18+; authorized for emergency use for ages 6 months to 17 years as a primary series; bivalent booster dose authorized for emergency use for ages 6mos+. | Primary series: two doses, delivered four weeks apart
Bivalent booster: single dose, 2 months after completing primary vaccine series or last monovalent booster received. |
Injection-site pain, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches, chills |
| Johnson & Johnson | Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use for ages 18+ | One dose primary series | Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain |
| Novavax | Vaccine has been authorized for emergency use as a primary series for ages 12+; booster dose approved for ages 18+ if completed a primary series but have not previously received any COVID-19 booster | Primary Series: two dose, three to eight weeks apart
Monovalent booster: single dose, 2 months after completing COVID-19 primary vaccine series. |
Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain |
| AstraZeneca | Vaccine trials are ongoing | Two dose primary series, delivered four weeks apart | Fever, muscle aches, headaches, injection site pain |
Resources about the COVID vaccine
We are here to help you.
If you have questions or need help, operators are available to assist you.
Call 855-MD-GoVAX (855-634-6829)
