Updated, bivalent booster shots are now available.
The COVID-19 booster shot strengthens our defenses against COVID, and the newly authorized bivalent boosters (for age 12+) are also updated to better protect 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
Marylanders 12+ are now eligible to receive a bivalent booster from either Pfizer-BioNTech (for age 12+) or Moderna (age 18+). 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. These bivalent boosters are only available as a booster dose, not as a primary vaccine series. 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.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- Marylanders 5-11 may receive a Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent booster dose if it has been at least 5 months since your last dose of a primary vaccine series from either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech
- Marylanders 5-11 who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive a Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent booster dose 3 months after completing their primary series
- Marylanders 12+ may receive a Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster dose if they have completed a primary vaccine series with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine or received the recommended booster at least two months ago.
- Marylanders 18+ may receive a Moderna updated bivalent booster dose if they have completed a primary vaccine series with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine or received the recommended booster at least two months ago.
Eligible Marylanders 18+ may choose which bivalent booster they want, even if it is different from the primary series or booster dose(s) already received. Call 855-MDGOVAX or visit covidvax.maryland.gov to schedule your booster appointment.
Note: Novavax is not available as a booster dose for other people who have received other COVID vaccines. It is authorized as a primary vaccination series only for individuals 18 and older who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID.
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.
