Maryland governor says elderly, immunocompromised eligible for vaccine boosters

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Wednesday announced that the elderly and immunocompromised are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in the state. 

In a statement, Hogan’s office said that the authorization is immediate.

Those eligible for the boosters will be people in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, drug treatment centers, and Developmentally Disabled Group Homes. 

Hogan’s office also said that pharmacies and medical providers must administer the booster shots to those who are immunocompromised without prescription and or a doctor’s note. 

Maryland is immediately authorizing COVID-19 booster shots for Marylanders 65+ living in congregate care settings, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential drug treatment centers, and developmentally disabled group homes.

Details: https://t.co/U3zPcG3Tr7

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) September 8, 2021

“For several weeks now, states have had to operate without clear guidance from the federal government regarding these booster shots,” Hogan said in the news conference. 

“The limited guidance we have received has been confusing and contradictory, and it is still unclear when and how more people will become eligible. But all of the evidence makes it abundantly clear that we cannot afford to delay taking decisive action to protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

This comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) shared Wednesday that wealthy countries shouldn’t administer booster shots yet, citing poorer countries still struggling with their initial vaccine rollout. 

Hogan shared on Tuesday that 95 percent of Maryland senior citizens have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Maryland has now surpassed 95% of all eligible Marylanders 65 and older vaccinated against COVID-19. As one of the most vaccinated states in the country, we continue to achieve significant milestones and outpace national rates across the board.

Details: https://t.co/2FhVDOeGuW pic.twitter.com/3ptFNSGyBJ

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) September 7, 2021