The new COVID shot will be available in Baltimore as soon as this weekend

The latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to hit Baltimore pharmacies as early as this weekend, as hospitalizations from the virus continue to rise across the region. Unlike the last booster shot, which was approved around this time last year and protected people against two strains of the virus, the new mRNA vaccine only targets one strain — the omicron variant, XBB.1.5.