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.

@migizii

My thoughts on this, I am not a health care worker, but if the numbers of critically ill people would be reduced, their jobs would dramatically improve. Just because the people here can isolate, it doesn’t mean others in their household may be able to. I understand their thoughts. The numbers won’t come down with them getting the vaccine until the 65 and Oder population does too. Just my thoughts here.

Jump to this post

@migizii- Good morning. This is a very valid point. We have to have enough people who are vaccinated to create herd immunity for numbers to really matter, including those of us over 65.

REPLY
@migizii

Mayo, Jacksonville, is the only location that presently is reporting any plan.....it has been very frustrating for so many people to get special privileges ($$$ talks); and lack of coordination and lack of vaccines in a rich countr, like ours, seems unbelievable...but this is our situation....but we will persevere. Blessings to all💕

Jump to this post

Migizii, I still believe we should each contact our local health departmen. For me, in Jacksonville, Fl, that is the Duval County Health Dept. They are working with the state health dept under direction of our Gov. DeSantis. That's the way our state is handling the distribution. Our mayor announced today he's opening 2 large testing sites on Monday for vaccinations. That will get the vaccine into many more arms.

The same thing is happening in other counties through our state. I can only relay what Florida is doing. But, it's working now and folks are getting the shots.

I'm so blessed to have been among the Mayo Fl patients to get the shot. Part of that, too, is the amount of vaccines the state of Fl is getting. And, to my knowledge, we're using them, not letting them sit and being thrown away while we figure out the plan. That's a horrid situation. Truly hurts to hear such things happening.

I didn't get any special priviledge....I haven't donated money to Mayo, although I wish I could!, don't have anyone working there, not the mother of any of the docs or whatever.....not one to get special care for just being me. I'm afraid the main reasons are the things wrong in my body qualifying me for early vaccination.

Blessings, migizzi, on this journey. Soon, I pray....Elizabeth

REPLY
@migizii

My thoughts on this, I am not a health care worker, but if the numbers of critically ill people would be reduced, their jobs would dramatically improve. Just because the people here can isolate, it doesn’t mean others in their household may be able to. I understand their thoughts. The numbers won’t come down with them getting the vaccine until the 65 and Oder population does too. Just my thoughts here.

Jump to this post

Knowing (I think) where you live, I suggest contacting Sanford Health in about 3 weeks to see where they are at. Our Department of Health is still adamant that all health care workers and long term care residents will be vaccinated first. After that, I believe the facilities will have a little leeway in deciding exactly who they vaccinate in the next phase, of front-line workers and those over 75, especially if they get more vaccine doses released as the incoming administration has indicated.
Sue

REPLY

My husband and I both have appointments at Mayo in Jacksonville on January 14. Can we get vaccinated that day. We are both over 75.

REPLY

Hello @paula1945 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I understand you are interested in exploring if you could couple your existing appointment on 1/14 with an opportunity to get the COVID vaccine.

The first post of this conversation shared:
"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."

Have you received any information on your eligibility on your portal yet?

REPLY

I have not received any information.

REPLY

@paula1945 please feel free to use the other resources at the top of this discussion until you arrive at your appointment when you might ask for any updates available then.

REPLY
@paula1945

I have not received any information.

Jump to this post

Hi, @paula1945. Have you sent a message thru your Mayo patient portal? That is what I did when I wanted information about the covid19 vaccine. I got a prompt reply, even though there was a portal notice that due to heavy volume, I could expect a delayed response.

REPLY
@paula1945

I have not received any information.

Jump to this post

@paula1945- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. If I were you, I recommend that you call and find out ahead of time. That will give you plenty of time to find the right person to talk to and make any arrangements that you need to. Does this make sense?

REPLY
@amandajro

Hello @paula1945 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I understand you are interested in exploring if you could couple your existing appointment on 1/14 with an opportunity to get the COVID vaccine.

The first post of this conversation shared:
"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."

Have you received any information on your eligibility on your portal yet?

Jump to this post

No and I am 77 years old. Please tell me how I can get an appointment to get vaccinated. Thank you.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.