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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.
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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.
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Will I be able to get the vaccine at Mayo? I am 72 year old Mayo cancer patient with Stage 4a Adenocancer NSCLC.
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3 ReactionsAs Colleen said above, "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" - so check your account online, or if you don't have one, contact your provider late in January, when they should have updated information.
As of today, in Minnesota the vaccine has not yet reached all the front line health care workers and care facility residents, who are Phase 1A. This phase will take a few more weeks as more doses of vaccine are received.
Sue
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4 ReactionsIs the vaccine safe for transplant patients?
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2 Reactions@blueg1948- Welcome to Mayo Connect. My first question is, are you a patient at Mayo? If you are then you will need to discuss having the vaccine. Look below at @sueinmn's post too.
If you are not a patient at Mayo then I suggest that you contact your provider. My cancer staging is the same as yours. I'm 74 and plan on getting vaccinated as soon as my provider notifies me.
I look forward to what has brought you to Connect.
Have you joined the Cancer Group?
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1 Reaction@jeff79922- Welcome Jeff to Mayo Clinic Connect. We have a very active Transplant group.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/transplants/ Please meet @danab, @gingerw, and @rosemarya who are mentors for Mayo Connect Transplant group.
Meanwhile please watch the video below about Vaccines and Transplant patients. Dr. Poland is superb.
Kristin Eggebraaten, Relations Coordinator
@keggebraaten :
Happy Thursday everyone! I hope those of you on the east coast are braving the snow. Here in MN, we just don't have anything to discuss in terms of the weather. It's an unusual December for sure.
We wanted to be sure you all saw the recent update from Dr. Poland. If you don't know, Dr. Poland is an infectious disease expert, and he is the head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. Since the beginning of the pandemic, he has been posting many videos a week with Q&A information about the pandemic, the virus, the safety measures, and now, the vaccine.
In this recent video, around minute 16:00 – 18:00, Dr. Poland talks about vaccine-related to transplant patients. We thought you all might like to hear this information, but please remember, the information about COVID is changing so quickly. The videos we post today could be quickly outdated with the release of new information. And also please remember, you should consult the transplant teams caring for YOU before you embark on any decisions to receive, or not receive, the new vaccines.
We will continue to update you with new information as it becomes available to us. In the meantime, make sure to get your COVID information from a trusted source, such as the CDC or your local health department or your transplant physicians. Take care!
Liked by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor, Colleen Young, Connect Director, cehunt57, Merry, Volunteer Mentor ... see all
Is your transplant recent?
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3 ReactionsHow do you define "care team"? I have an oncologist, cardiologist, urologist, etc. at Mayo. Which one is considered my "care team" or point person? Who will keep me posted about vaccine avaiability? Thanks.
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1 Reaction@rred- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your care team is all of the doctors you mention. At my hospital, it is my oncologist who "manages" everything. However, when I have a question that might be better answered by my lung surgeon or radiologist I email them directly. If I need something answered I go to the best source for an answer.
Now, you should have a PCP. Usually, if you need a vaccine it is the PCP who gives it to you or directs you to where you can get one. So far in my state, I haven't been notified as to when it will be available and where I go to have mine. Things are still very confusing and states are still receiving the vaccines. When I called my PCP to ask about mine I was told that they had no idea and recommended that I call my state health department. Well, of course, no one can get through. So for now I'm waiting for answers like everyone else.
Do you have a PCP?
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4 ReactionsThank you Merry for your quick and helpful reply. My doctors, aside from PCP, are all at Mayo Clinic Phoenix/Scottsdale. I've given up trying to get a Mayo PCP. I, too, contact apprpriate doctor for care (which has always been great). But, in re: vaccine, which one will be looking out for me? Thanks
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3 Reactions@rred- Would you let me know if it is your PCP who is looking out for you when it comes to the covid-19 vaccine?
As Dr. Poland pointed out in one his podcasts, the vaccine will likely be distibuted through large medcal facilites that have the required refrigeration capabilies that some vaccines require. That is why I am looking to Mayo for my vaccine.
My PCP cares for my health needs. He is not associated with Mayo. My concern is that I will have as much info as he regarding Covid vaccines but neither of us will have access.
I consider myself a Mayo patient. While the "care team" concept sounds good, I just don't understand how it gets implemented.
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