August 1st, 2022 by WCBC Radio

Gov. Larry Hogan has declared August as Immunization Awareness Month in the State of Maryland, encouraging Marylanders to stay COVIDReady by staying up to date on vaccines and boosters—especially as back-to-school season begins.

“The dominant BA.5 subvariant is a reminder of how important it is for Marylanders to stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, as well as routine immunizations,” Hogan said. “Through our COVIDReady Maryland plan, we will continue to maximize all of the available tools and treatments for preventing severe illness, and maintaining a state of readiness so that we are prepared to respond to emerging waves and variants.”
 

To date, the state has administered nearly 12.7 million COVID-19 vaccinations, including more than 3.1 million booster shots. More than 95% of Marylanders 12 and older have received a first dose; 88.9% of Marylanders 12-17 years old and 51.4% of Marylanders 5-11 years old have received a first dose. To date, 7.6% of Marylanders under 5 have received a first dose, ranking third in the nation.

“We encourage all families to get the COVID-19 vaccine or booster during their routine immunizations, an important step in keeping Maryland children strong, healthy, and COVIDReady,” said Dr. Jinlene Chan, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services at the Maryland Department of Health. “Protect your children and your neighbors by contacting your local healthcare provider, the school nurse, or your local health department to ensure all your child’s shots are up to date.”
 

Families can view official vaccination records online at MyIRMobile.com, a secure portal where users can access official copies of their records and those of their family members. Back-to-school immunization guidance is available here.