How To Get A Vaccine In Maryland

En español | Who is eligible to get vaccinated?

Everyone age 5 and up.

Montgomery County administers 4,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to healthcare workers and first responders, on December 30 in Silver Spring, MD. — A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Silver Spring.

Who's eligible for booster shots?

All adults 18 and older are eligible for a Pfizer or Moderna booster six months after their initial two-shot series, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People 18 and up who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster dose at least two months after their first shot.

Third doses of Pfizer and Moderna, distinct from boosters, are available for specific immunocompromised people , including organ transplant recipients and certain cancer patients. These recipients may also get a booster — a fourth dose — at least six months after the third shot, according to CDC guidance .

Can I mix and match boosters?

It's safe and effective to choose which vaccine you receive as a booster - whether it's the one you got initially or another vaccine, according to CDC recommendations.

Which vaccine is authorized for kids?

Pfizer's vaccine is authorized for children age 5 and older; the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for those 18 and older. Pfizer's vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds is one-third the dose given to people age 12 and up, and is given in two doses, three weeks apart, according to CDC recommendations . Shots for kids are available at doctors' offices and certain retail pharmacies. Call your doctor or check pharmacy websites. Both Pfizer and Moderna are researching how their vaccines work in children as young as 6 months.

Where can I get a vaccine or a booster?

Government-run community sites, hospitals, health clinics, and local pharmacies can be found on the Maryland state searchable database . Sites offering first, second and booster vaccines can be found on massvax.maryland.gov or by calling the state's COVID-19 vaccination support center at 855-634-6829. Maryland's COVID-19 data dashboard is tracking how many people have been vaccinated in the state.

Retail pharmacies,including CVS , Walgreens , Walmart , and Rite Aid are offering first shots and boosters and, in some cases, don't require appointments. But if you'd prefer to schedule your shot in advance, follow the links to book online. Note that some pharmacy websites require you to answer questions about your vaccination status before presenting the option for a booster. Many pharmacies allow you to book an appointment for the specific vaccine you prefer.

The federal government's vaccines website, www.vaccines.gov , lets you search for vaccines and booster shots by zip code, with links to appointments. Get the same information by texting your zip code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233 (TTY: 888-720-7489).

Veterans Affairs facilities are vaccinating veterans, spouses and veteran caregivers . You can sign up with VA .

Many transit agencies are offering free or discount rides to and from vaccination sites.

What should I bring to my vaccination appointment?

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Officials recommend that you bring a driver's license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state residency, and your health insurance card, if you have one. You will not be charged, but the vaccine provider may bill your insurer a fee for administering the vaccine.

How are vaccinations working in nursing homes and long-term care facilities?

Most residents and staff of Maryland's long-term care facilities were offered first and second doses through a federal program that provided free on-site vaccinations in late 2020 and early 2021. The program has ended, but the federal government continues to allocate COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to pharmacies that are partnered with long-term care facilities to provide vaccinations, mainly on-site. Facilities that don't have a pharmacy partner are encouraged to work with local or state health departments — or the federal government, if need be — to provide vaccinations.

Most nursing home staff are required to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4 as per a federal mandate for staff in health care facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid dollars. Most assisted living, memory-care and other long-term care facilities are not subject to this mandate, as they are regulated by the states, some of which have their own mandates for workers.

Which vaccines require two initial shots?

Both Pfizer and Moderna require two doses. If you get one of these, you'll need a follow-up dose to be effectively immunized. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine requires just one shot. A Food and Drug Administration warning says the vaccine has been connected with rare, severe blood clots in a small number of recipients, especially in women age 50 years and younger, and an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

Do I have to pay for the vaccination or booster shot?

You should not have any out-of-pocket costs for getting the vaccine. AARP fought to make sure the federal government is covering the cost of the vaccine . The federal government is buying the vaccine and getting it to providers for free.

There are reports of scammers purporting to offer COVID vaccines and treatments and trying to charge for them. AARP's Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.

What should I do with my vaccine card?

You should get a small white card at your vaccination appointment with your name, birth date, name of the vaccine you received and the date it was administered. If you receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, bring your card when you get your second shot.

You may need your vaccine card to schedule a third vaccine dose, for certain immunocompromised people, or a booster shot. You may also need it for certain kinds of travel or other activities and may want to take a photo of it with your smartphone for your own records. But experts warn that posting a photo of your card to social media could make you vulnerable to identity theft .

If you've lost your vaccine card, call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record. You can also contact Maryland's health department to request a replacement card or a copy of your record.

How protected am I post-vaccination? I've heard about breakthrough infections.

All three vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease . But no vaccine is 100 percent effective and breakthrough infections, while rare, have been reported.

This guide was updated on Nov. 19 with information about expanding booster shots to all adults age 18 and older.

Also of Interest:

What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines?
What are the side effects of booster shots?
Read AARP's full coronavirus coverage