Children 5 and older now eligible for updated COVID-19 booster

Marylanders ages 5 and older are now eligible to receive the updated COVID-19 booster shot, the Maryland Department of Health announced on Thursday. The updated booster shot, also called the bivalent shot, protects people against the original strain of the virus, as well as Omicron BA.4 and BA.5. Children between 5 and 11 years old who have gotten their last COVID-19 primary vaccine or booster shot at least two months ago can now receive an updated booster dose, according to a news release from the state health department on Thursday. “We urge all Marylanders 5 years old and older to get the bivalent booster shot as soon as they can to be COVIDReady and together safely enjoy the colder months and upcoming holidays,” Dennis Schrader, secretary of the state health department, said in the news release.