Information on COVID-19 Vaccine distribution for Mayo Clinic patients

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Dec 24, 2020

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.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 11, 2021

In reply to @1porsche "No and I am 77 years old. Please tell me how I can get an appointment..." + (show)

@1porsche- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It depends on several factors. But most importantly it depends on your state and Department of health. Everything is still changing with schedules so don't be surprised if you wind up still in the dark. If I were you I'd google your state department, hospital, doctor's office, and pharmacist in that order. If you are being treated by a PCP or a specialist they would be a good bet to talk to.

I know that this is very angering and very frustrating.

Connect can't possible know when vaccines will be given and by whom. Many people, like myself, do not use Mayo as their hospital.

If you find out would you please let us know?

Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Jan 11, 2021

Hello @1porsche and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I know many people are very eager to get the vaccine. The most up-to-date vaccine resources in terms of Mayo Clinic patients can be found by scrolling to the original post at the top of this discussion.

Are you a current Mayo Clinic patient and do you have the patient portal?

migizii | @migizii | Jan 11, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "Knowing (I think) where you live, I suggest contacting Sanford Health in about 3 weeks to..." + (show)

Sue, yes I am in the Sanford system but am only 65 yr old; thus, I am expecting a fairly long wait unless something changes. I worked in the Cass Lake Bena Scholl being employed by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the Indian Health Center there have been vaccinating all people 55 and older. My past co-worker said she’d explore trying to find a way to sneak me in over there (as I’m not native and she’d have to come with me!). Hehe

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 12, 2021

In reply to @migizii "Sue, yes I am in the Sanford system but am only 65 yr old; thus, I..." + (show)

I was just listening to MPR and a speaker said small counties sometimes have more vaccine than they can use quickly due to distribution quirks and are able to offer to others outside the "list" - maybe a call to the county health departmetn coud get you on the radar due to living with essential workers?
Sue

ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 12, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "I was just listening to MPR and a speaker said small counties sometimes have more vaccine..." + (show)

Sue, you know, I really think we need to keep in touch with our county health depts. it seems they are the distribution folks once the vaccine gets to the state. but, they don't have ability to keep temps proper for long, so need to get rid of vaccine fast. Also, I just saw on news the fed gov't, HHS-Asar?, released more vaccine and lowered the age to 65! apparently they have enough vaccine for 2nd shots, so are comfortable sending out more. might be important for folks to ck health depts - stae and county and hospitals to find out their system.

What a journey we're on! Blessings to all....Elizabeth

sue6175 | @sue6175 | Jan 12, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "I was just listening to MPR and a speaker said small counties sometimes have more vaccine..." + (show)

I was able to receive the first vaccine via Mayo as I am a transplant pt. It was given on 1/7/21.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 12, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "I was just listening to MPR and a speaker said small counties sometimes have more vaccine..." + (show)

@sueinmn - the present administration says that it's going to release vaccine deliveries and that anyone over the age of 65 and those with compromised immunity will be included. I hope this comes through, for all of us!

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 12, 2021

In reply to @merpreb "@sueinmn - the present administration says that it's going to release vaccine deliveries and that anyone..." + (show)

We just need to remember that as of today "all of the vaccine" is fewer than 20 million doses, and there are at least 50 million high-priority patients in the country (including many of us) so it may still be a while.

Also, here in MN and in AZ and CA, they are having trouble ramping up in metro areas because there are not enough people to do the shots - maybe as some retirees get vaccines and build some immunity they will be willing to help with the wider population? In Far South Texas, they had 65,000 doses and 800,000 people...

We are waiting anxiously for our turn.
Sue

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 12, 2021

In reply to @sue6175 "I was able to receive the first vaccine via Mayo as I am a transplant pt...." + (show)

@sue6175, I'm thrilled to hear that you were able to get the vaccine last week already. As a transplant patient, I think you may appreciate following the Transplants group and joining the discussions here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/transplants/