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.

fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Jan 13, 2021

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

@sue6175, That is absolutely Great news for you! Wonderful

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 13, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "We just need to remember that as of today "all of the vaccine" is fewer than..." + (show)

@sueinmn- I agree, Sue. Since the beginning, we haven't been told the truth about the number of vaccines available or when they will be available. By the end of next week, I bet we will know a lot more. This is a very anxious time for all of us who have yet to be vaccinated. I live in a very small state and we didn't get enough vaccines to even give mass innoculations to. And to make matters worse our governor is leaving to join the new cabinet next Wed.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 13, 2021

According to direct word yesterday from our Department of health, in our state, we have received about 200,000 doses and dispensed 80,000 or 90,000. That's not even enough for all health care workers.
If everyone here who is over 65 (about 900,000) and everyone with underlying conditions (about 800,000 more) queues up, there will be chaos!
Sue

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 13, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "According to direct word yesterday from our Department of health, in our state, we have received..." + (show)

@sueinmn- I often, because I need to, wonder at what really is happening with these delays and if the vaccine will be good after so long.

seaspray | @seaspray | Jan 13, 2021

In reply to @paula1945 "I have not received any information." + (show)

@paula1945 I
I have not heard anything either on my patient portal regarding my vaccine. I have been at Mayo almost every week for other appointments and just sent a note through the portal to my care team. I will say that the Mayo in Jacksonville had about 75 people all sitting and standing together in a lobby waiting on their appointment. Talk about herd immunity......