Information on COVID-19 Vaccine distribution for Mayo Clinic patients

For Mayo Clinic Patients:
The COVID-19 pandemic has made this a trying year for everyone. But there is good news to report.

An effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine is available now, and other COVID-19 vaccines will be coming soon. These vaccines have been tested under strict guidelines. Studies show that the first vaccine available, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the next vaccine likely to be available, the Moderna vaccine, are 95% and 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19.

Like many, you may have questions about these vaccines. This COVID-19 vaccine educational flyer will answer some of your questions. Be sure to follow Mayo Podcasts for up to the minute news about vaccination, COVID and more.

Mayo Clinic is working with other health care organizations, and state and federal authorities, to prepare for the fair and safe distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. But it will take some time to vaccinate everyone who wants to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

The first people who will be offered vaccination for COVID-19 are those with the highest risk of getting infected: front-line health care workers and adults in long-term care facilities. As more COVID-19 vaccines become available, more people will be offered vaccinations.

We will continue to share with you information about COVID-19 vaccines on our COVID-19 information hub and on Mayo Clinic News Network's COVID page. Mayo Clinic patients can expect emails from their care teams and see updates on Patient Online Services, Mayo's patient portal, about scheduling vaccination appointments at Mayo Clinic.

While COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19, you should continue to follow other prevention protocols already in place:

  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
  • Stay at least 6 feet apart from other people.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol.

Mayo Clinic believes that COVID-19 vaccines will be effective in preventing COVID-19. When you are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19, we encourage you to schedule a vaccination appointment. Follow news from your state and local health authorities for further information.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@ess77

Colleen, Found something!!!!! On the link, I went to Covid-19 Guidance for Mayo Clinic....again, for the 10th time....and saw an underlined FLORIDA. Clicked on it. Got a list of questions re Fla Mayo Patients covid vaccine. wonderful. Beginning in early Jan2021, Mayo will begin contacting patients on portal who meet their requirements for getting vaccine. Etc. So, I wait til then. And, there's a nurse call # I'll begin calling next week just to see which doc or whatever....Well. we got somewhere! Tks. This was a struggle to get this info. But,., we did it. Elizabeth

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@ess77 thanks for your perseverance! For anyone looking for the page to which Elizabeth refers, see it here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine

Go to the third bullet and click your Mayo Clinic location for further details.

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@merpreb

@migizii- This does sound crazy! I believe that the CDC is now including those of us who have underlying conditions in the next couple of months. I'm not sure if we can decide when to get the vaccine. I think that it depends on what schedule your state has set up with CDC recommendations. Many states have different schedules. My PCP can't decide when I get my vaccination but can recommend what group I fit in. I'm sure that there is some formula that is being used to determine this.

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Thx for your response. I emailed my PCP and he said he has no idea when the vaccine will be available to the public, but does see the importance of priority for me......thus, to me, this sounds like no answer. According to what I read today on the MN dept of health website: after front line workers and nursing home residents; some essential workers (that I used to be, but had to quit (due to my health when covid arrived) and people 75yrs and older will be next. I am 65, so it appears it maybe a long time for me to wait. The third tier will be me unless something changes from the state health dept. I would never want to supersede someone more vulnerable than me, but I think the system set up leaves me in a precarious position. I know others are content to sit at home, but I have others in my home that interact in the community everyday for their jobs and their views of covid safety are not always as conscientious as us on this forum, which raises my anxiety occasionally. Then, I give myself reassurance that I can only do what I can and move on with hope that all be well.

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@ess77

Colleen, Found something!!!!! On the link, I went to Covid-19 Guidance for Mayo Clinic....again, for the 10th time....and saw an underlined FLORIDA. Clicked on it. Got a list of questions re Fla Mayo Patients covid vaccine. wonderful. Beginning in early Jan2021, Mayo will begin contacting patients on portal who meet their requirements for getting vaccine. Etc. So, I wait til then. And, there's a nurse call # I'll begin calling next week just to see which doc or whatever....Well. we got somewhere! Tks. This was a struggle to get this info. But,., we did it. Elizabeth

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@ess77- Good morning. I am so glad that you found a temporary solution to your questions about when, where, and who to go to for COVID-19 vaccines. I'm pretty upset with this whole roll-out thing too. And, I'm also high risk so I'm biting at the bit for one. From the beginning, the handling of covid-19 and now vaccines for it have been bungled here in the US. And I'm livid about it. There are wasted supplies, mistakes with keeping the vaccines at the temperature that they need to be and a roll-out system that isn't national.

Despite being told to be patient it's very difficult to remain so. I also got the run-around answer from my doctor. No one seems to know what is going on in my state. My governor is a biggie on keeping things hidden.

The fact that you received, at least, some hope gives me some. Thanks for posting!

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@merpreb

@ess77- Good morning. I am so glad that you found a temporary solution to your questions about when, where, and who to go to for COVID-19 vaccines. I'm pretty upset with this whole roll-out thing too. And, I'm also high risk so I'm biting at the bit for one. From the beginning, the handling of covid-19 and now vaccines for it have been bungled here in the US. And I'm livid about it. There are wasted supplies, mistakes with keeping the vaccines at the temperature that they need to be and a roll-out system that isn't national.

Despite being told to be patient it's very difficult to remain so. I also got the run-around answer from my doctor. No one seems to know what is going on in my state. My governor is a biggie on keeping things hidden.

The fact that you received, at least, some hope gives me some. Thanks for posting!

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Absolutely we have hope! WE, you, me and most of the folks on the Connect groups are made of steel! If we weren't full of stubborness and tenacity, we'd have given up long ago on our multiple health issues. I've been fighting, through a lot of tough times, tough symptoms and too many doctors who treated everything/me as 'a female', with 'female anxiety', how many times did I hear 'it's really not something to concern yourself about' or 'take this valium and it'll calm you down...'.....So, I realized I own my body, God loaned it to me-just me. It's my responsibility. I'm responsible for the maintenance and for seeing to it I get the help I need from the best to offer. So, we become gorillas! Do the same re my son and his years of fighting for help! This is a small example of what we do. I just kept digging.

Merry, I've been on that page on that site at least 10 times, looking for information. It's a real puzzle.....maybe Mayo admin put this together like this to test cognitive ability? Well, of course not, they're trying to help us. But, we found it and now have a plan. That's what we want....info, knowledge so we can make our plans for ourselves. I understand much of the problems our governments and society have dealt with were new, untamed territory. Everyone, even the so called experts/leaders, has floundered trying to do the best thing. But, mistakes were made.

The Warp Speed is fantastic combination of private business and gov't.I think it's the best way to do these things. But, now, to be blunt, the beauracracies are trying to distribute and unless they get out of the way they'll muck it up. That's what's happening now.

And, it seems wealthy, donors, others with power are gettiing shots first. Why did all our Washington congress people -many under 50 and healthy- and some of their staff - most under 40 and healthy, get shots first? Why are many hospitals giving ALL the staff shots, not just front-line? Why are prisoners in CA and NY?? getting shots BEFORE the elderly, even those in facilities? Makes me furious!~!!!!!

But, I have control over my life, my vaccine.....at least over getting info and follow through. I think we need to all stand up and let our leaders understand we they can't make these decision!.....prisoners?

DeSantis, Florida, is giving all over 65. Most of the facilities are getting shots first. We're just having to get them delivered to Florida. County health dept.- which could do better.....why are they closed on the week-end? Why are the phones not answered on the week-end or only from 8:30 - 5:00? Get more phones, more people to answer, get organized. Stay open!!!!!!!This is a global emergency! I'm horrified at this kind of thinking.

Why didn't the CDC have the plans for who gets the shots when, all completed and announced in July or August? Why wait until DEC. 20th to meet and make plans? That's caused a lot of states to have to hustle and play catch up.

Why did and is the FDA only seeing research results when the pharm co is ready to ship out? Why don't they keep up with the research as it's happening? This should be done as a normal thing. THIS IS A GLOBAL EMERGENCY! Think out of the box! Good, qualified people.....stuck in the box thinkingl 9-5 only

OK. I'm through. This is a real serious issue, I take it seriously and can't believe the incompetence of so many. We've seen some remarkable, stellar actions taken and forced on the beurocratic govt's. Now, we see the 9-5ers, M-F only. take over.

Blessings. (apologize for the rant, but I think it says some good things. Made me feel better!!), I go to Mayo for everything because they think out of the box and search for answers. Elizabeth

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My friend's daughter works in one of the hospitals on NYC with the most covid cases. He said some of the nurses who had covid and recovered are not willing to take the vaccine.

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@ess77

Hello, Amanda. I'll answer your questions and add my two cents.....Yes, I've been very pleased with the information Mayo has made available about the Covid vaccine. Through Newsfeed, the Poland Podcasts, the Covid 19 connect group discussions and the regular updates by Colleen Young we've had several avenues to find info. I haven't though been successful finding specifics about if or how or when or from whom I will be able to get the vaccinne, at Mayo. I, like several others in this conversation have multiple Mayo providers, but my PCP is with the Jacksonville Baptist Primary physicians. I keep praying this will change soon so I can have a Mayo PCP. This truly makes it tough for me in several ways. I use both Mayo (wonderful!!!) patient portal and Baptist (awful!!!) patient portal to keep my PCP informed of my progress at Mayo. I send him test results, docs comments and diagnoses and treatments, (he's not rec'd all the records as I requested....or the office isn't aware of them???) I have an excellent medical team. They do share information among themselves and with me. It's amazingly wonderful. I'm getting diagnoses, removing diagnoses, following results and actually going forward in my health and life. Much improved. BUT, I need the Covid 19 vaccine and can't find out how to get it! Baptist docs don't have access. It's run through the hospital system. Since I deal 199% with Mayo, I haven't ck'd w/Baptist yet. Fl/Jacksonville is now offering through the county health dept vaccines to anyone over 65 by appt only given DT at the Convention Center. If I can't get info re Mayo vaccine and me, I'll contact the health dept and get in line. So, while your info is good, the specific help we're looking for we still can't get. No idea if any of my docs will contact me? Which one? Any guess at time-frame? I think we're a bit lost in this, in the middle of 2 systems....in my case, 3 systems. Hope some of this add clarity? Happy New Year and many blessings. Elixabeth

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As I have mentioned, Rochester Mayo will not let me access their system for the vaccine even though I see a number of specialists there. My local PCP has no idea what is happening.

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@mayofeb2020

My friend's daughter works in one of the hospitals on NYC with the most covid cases. He said some of the nurses who had covid and recovered are not willing to take the vaccine.

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@mayofeb2020, Your response didn't give reasons nurses gave for not taking the vaccine but it triggered something concerning that my daughter recently shared.

Her closest friend is part of a very large, family owned commercial/ personal laundry in Dallas. The friend shared that many hospital staff coming into the laundry have expressed misgivings about taking the vaccine, even though they've not had Covid themselves and although they are first listed. Their shared concern is that they feel that the ill and very elderly need the vaccine first.

My daughter and I were surprised at this because TX is a state with high Covid numbers and medical staffing throughout the state is reaching crisis status in many areas.

At 77 in my state, I am eligible for the vaccine but my ambivalence about the vaccine is that most in the over 65 yr age group are retired and can stay home to allow those crucially daily needed first responders the opportunity first. Without them, we'll all be out of luck!

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@fiesty76- I think that delaying or choosing not to have the COVID-19 vaccine because you are unhappy with the current system is terribly irresponsible. I think that it's fear, especially for those who have had COVID-19. And who is to blame people for feeling like this?

But not having it means that they are at risk for it and might pass it on, and worse yet, not know it and pass it on. Having had COVID-19 does not mean that you aren't as susceptible as anyone else to getting it. There just hasn't been enough time that has elapsed to show it. There needs to be herd immunity to stop the virus. The more people who are vaccinated the better, even if the dolling out system is cockeyed. To do otherwise doesn't make sense. It's an unnecessary and dangerous protest.

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@mayofeb2020

My friend's daughter works in one of the hospitals on NYC with the most covid cases. He said some of the nurses who had covid and recovered are not willing to take the vaccine.

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@mayofeb2020- This is just so discouraging. I don't think that they are thinking about it clearly.

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@migizii

As I have mentioned, Rochester Mayo will not let me access their system for the vaccine even though I see a number of specialists there. My local PCP has no idea what is happening.

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Have you tried this link, that Colleen posted? https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine

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