Bivalent booster shots are available for eligible Marylanders 6 months and older
The COVID-19 booster shot strengthens our defenses against COVID, and the bivalent boosters are updated for added protection against omicron variants as well. With a booster shot, you can continue to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. By protecting ourselves as much as possible, we can end COVID together.
Booster shots
The reformulated booster doses of the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are “bivalent”. This means that they contain “tools” (spike proteins of the virus) to target the original version of SARS-CoV-2 and its omicron variants. Those who remain unvaccinated for COVID will need to first complete a primary vaccination series and then wait 2 months before receiving a bivalent booster dose. Eligibility varies depending on manufacturer and age of the recipient.
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.
Any Marylander who presents to a provider that they are eligible for a booster dose is allowed to self-attest to eligibility. COVID-19 vaccine providers cannot turn away any individual who self-attests to eligibility for an additional dose or booster dose. Failure of an individual to “show proof” of eligibility may not be a reason that a provider does not administer an additional or booster dose.
