BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is fully vaccinated and received a booster vaccine, has tested positive for the coronavirus, he announced on social media Monday.
Hogan received his first two doses of the Moderna vaccine in January and February, then said in August that he had received a third dose.
The virus ran through the governor’s office in late August, with three members of his staff testing positive. The governor’s office said all were vaccinated and experienced mild symptoms.
That outbreak led officials at the Maryland Association of Counties to send a bulletin to thousands of members who attended a conference in Ocean City alongside members of the governor’s staff.
At that time, both Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford tested negative.
Post-vaccination infections, or “breakthrough” cases, are possible, even in vaccinated individuals. Health experts say that vaccination is not 100% effective against infection, though it mostly will stave off death, hospitalization and serious illness.
The Republican governor has been consistently urging Marylanders to get vaccinated and get booster shots to help blunt the effects of the coronavirus.
Adults are eligible for a booster dose six months after completing initial vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two months after vaccination with Johnson & Johnson.
Teenagers aged 16 to 18 who received Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination also are eligible for a booster shot six months after their initial vaccinations.
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