Maryland Issues Independent Vaccine Guidance Before Fall Season, Urges Shots by End-October
Updated
Updated · thebanner.com · Sep 10
Maryland Issues Independent Vaccine Guidance Before Fall Season, Urges Shots by End-October
1 articles · Updated · thebanner.com · Sep 10
Summary
Maryland health officials for the first time issued their own vaccine guidance ahead of flu season, telling adults and children to get flu, COVID and RSV shots by the end of October.
The move uses authority from the state Vax Act to base recommendations on major medical associations rather than federal health agencies, after Washington's vaccine guidance split under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
State officials said COVID, flu and RSV cases were still low as of Sept. 4, but last year's flu season was severe enough to justify an early push before schools and respiratory-virus season intensify spread.
Maryland said insurers must cover the recommended shots, pharmacists can administer them without a prescription to people age 3 and older, and state programs will pay for uninsured or underinsured residents.
The guidance keeps broad routine immunization advice in place for children, pregnant women, older adults and high-risk groups, underscoring a wider state effort to counter confusion after federal recommendations were scaled back.