By Quincy Broadnax
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan announced on Saturday that 99% of all Maryland residents 65 years and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to official CDC data.
Maryland continues to lead the region while also ranking in the top 10 in the country for boosters administered to seniors, Hogan said.
Hogan also announced that the state has surpassed 50,000 vaccinations for 5 to 11-year-olds.
“From our oldest to youngest eligible, we continue to lead one of the most successful vaccination campaigns in the country,” Hogan said. “We have gotten to this point by listening to the experts and by following the science, and that is exactly what we will continue to do as we work to get those last remaining 1% of seniors, and the 12.7% of remaining adults in our state vaccinated, and as we now work to get more of our school age children vaccinated.”
Maryland vaccine numbers continue to climb as nearly 8.9 million vaccinations have been administered, including 692,092 booster shots. According to official CDC data, 87.3% of Marylanders 18 and older have received at least one dose.
A number of Maryland state representatives, including Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Adrienne A. Jones and state Sen. Bill Ferguson, have recently received the COVID-19 booster shot.
Jones tweeted a statement on Tuesday voicing her support for citizens to get vaccinated as well as those already vaccinated to receive the booster shot.
“I joined the hundreds of thousands of Marylanders and millions of Americans who have received their COVID-19 booster shot,” she said. “Over time, the COVID-19 vaccine can become less effective, particularly for those with weakened immune systems.”
“This third dose will help strengthen our defenses and protect those most at risk,” Jones said. “Vaccines are highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death. By protecting ourselves, we can protect each other and end the spread of COVID-19.”
While children having the opportunity to be vaccinated is a step in the right direction, Lt. Gov. Boyd K. Rutherford said on WBAL News Radio, mandating that children receive the vaccine at this moment is not beneficial for the state right now.
“We’ve discussed it from a stand point of we don’t support it,” Rutherford said. “I think you’ll find situations and may know some parents where they were fine getting the vaccine themselves, but they’re a little hesitant right now for their 6- or 7-year-olds to get the vaccine.”
“I think right now to mandate kids is probably not the best thing to do right at this moment,” he continued. “While kids can possibly transfer to adults in terms of COVID, they are still less likely to get severely ill.”