Notes From Governor Hogan’s 9/8/21 Press Conference

Governor Hogan is holding a press conference to provide a Covid update to Marylanders. The press conference is being held at the State House in Annapolis with @MDHealthDept Secretary Dennis Schrader and @MarylandAging Secretary Rona Kramer

Below you’ll see notes from his press conference, as tweeted by his Deputy Communications Director, Kata Hall:

• VACCINE UPDATE:
-The State of Maryland has administered more than 7.6 million COVID-19 vaccines
-80% of eligible Marylanders 12+ have received at least one dose
-95% of Marylanders 65+ have received at least one dose
-68% of 12- to 17-year-olds have received at least one dose

• VAXU SCHOLARSHIP PROMOTION. With the help of our successful $1 million VaxU Scholarship Promotion, the % of 12- to 17-year-olds in Maryland who have now been vaccinated rose 17 points over the past two months.

• COVID DATA UPDATE:
-Maryland’s statewide positivity rate is the 6th lowest in America
-Case rate is the second lowest in America
-Hospitalizations are down 60% from their peak

• BOOSTERS. State health officials have been actively preparing for the next phase of our vaccination campaign and laying the groundwork for a statewide operation for booster shots.

Over 28,000 booster have already been administered to immunocompromised Marylanders.

• ANTIBODY TESTING PROGRAM. As part of booster preparation, the state launched an antibody testing program last month for 500 nursing home residents.

Findings indicated that:
-Over 60% demonstrated some form of waning immunity
-As many as 1 in 3 are now particularly vulnerable

• @GovLarryHogan: “All of the evidence makes it abundantly clear that we cannot afford to delay taking decisive action to protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

• BOOSTERS FOR SENIORS IN CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES. @MDHealthDept has issued an order that makes all Marylanders 65 and older who are living in congregate care settings immediately eligible for booster shots.

• This health order applies to all nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential drug treatment centers, and developmentally disabled group homes.

• BOOSTERS FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED MARYLANDERS. @MDHealthDept is issuing guidance today instructing all pharmacies and providers across the state to administer boosters without a prescription or doctor’s order to anyone who considers themselves to be immunocompromised.

• COMMUNITY COVID-19 VACCINATION PROJECT. This week, the state is launching a $3 million statewide, community-based, door-to-door canvassing effort to directly engage Marylanders living in areas with low vaccination rates.

• MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY. The State of Maryland has administered more than 10,000 infusions which have helped avoid approximately 500 hospitalizations and 200 deaths. These treatments are available at 30+ facilities statewide.

• @GovLarryHogan continues to call on the Biden administration to:
-Address boosters for those who received the J&J vaccine
-Advance full FDA approval of Moderna and J&J vaccines
-Expedite approval of vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds