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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.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 22, 2021
In reply to @naiviv "I understand that Mayo Clinic has four different Covid vaccination phases and that the priority are..." + (show)
@naiviv

I understand that Mayo Clinic has four different Covid vaccination phases and that the priority are healthcare staff and high risk patients. I’m 68 yrs old, a Mayo patient, caregiver. When will Mayo start to offer Covid vaccine to the rest of patients older than 65. Thank you Vivian N

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@naiviv, Here is the Update on Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 vaccination plans https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/update-on-mayo-clinics-covid-19-vaccination-plans/

Mayo Clinic continues to follow federal and state guidelines in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. Because each state is approaching vaccine allocation differently, Mayo Clinic sites vary in where they are in their rollout plans. The information is correct as of Jan 14 and may be modified depending on vaccine availability and modifications of federal and state guidelines. As @sueinmn, you will receive information from Mayo Clinic when they have information specific to you, your age, condition etc.

Patients with an assigned primary care provider at Mayo Clinic or Mayo Clinic Health System will receive an invitation to be vaccinated through Patient Online Services. Patients who do not have a Patient Online Services account will receive a letter.

REPLY
naiviv | @naiviv | Jan 23, 2021
In reply to @merpreb "@rred- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your care team is all of the doctors you mention...." + (show)
@merpreb

@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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I am a Mayo Clinic patient too but because I have Medicare no Internal Medicine doctor or Primary doctor in Mayo Clinic Florida is accepting new patients who have Medicare. I have been treated by the Spine Center doctors since 2020 but when I called them they don’t have information about the Covid vaccine and was told to call my PCP. I have a PCP outside Mayo Clinic now but they don’t have the vaccine and probably won’t have it. The FL Health Dept stopped offering the vaccines. Publix grocery stores have started in many counties except Duval County where Mayo Clinic is located. The Regency Mall in Jacksonville FL looks like a rodeo where you see crowds impossible to get through. Long lines of elderly people exposed to the inclements of weather since at this time of the year it can get cold here in Jacksonville. So how Mayo Clinic will treat the rest of the 65 + years old patients remaining who are being treated by other specialists in Mayo Clinic who don’t have a Mayo PCP? We are under the requirements to be able to get it. By the way, I understand high risk patients and healthcare staff are a priority and that there are 4 Phases to get it but what Category or Phase do we fit in? Thanks

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3 replies
jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Jan 23, 2021

I am in the same boat. 70 need liver transplant no pcp at Mayo. No different.in SWFL. 4 snowbird neighbors healthy 70 + from Ohio got theirs yesterday. Following for info...

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1 reply
sue6175 | @sue6175 | Jan 23, 2021
In reply to @jeanne5009 "I am in the same boat. 70 need liver transplant no pcp at Mayo. No different.in..." + (show)
@jeanne5009

I am in the same boat. 70 need liver transplant no pcp at Mayo. No different.in SWFL. 4 snowbird neighbors healthy 70 + from Ohio got theirs yesterday. Following for info...

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Yes. Livers are transplanted by MELD score according to degree of need/illness of pt. I waited for one year on the active waiting list and I received a liver from a cardiac donor when I began to decline quickly.

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seaspray | @seaspray | Jan 23, 2021
In reply to @naiviv "I am a Mayo Clinic patient too but because I have Medicare no Internal Medicine doctor..." + (show)
@naiviv

I am a Mayo Clinic patient too but because I have Medicare no Internal Medicine doctor or Primary doctor in Mayo Clinic Florida is accepting new patients who have Medicare. I have been treated by the Spine Center doctors since 2020 but when I called them they don’t have information about the Covid vaccine and was told to call my PCP. I have a PCP outside Mayo Clinic now but they don’t have the vaccine and probably won’t have it. The FL Health Dept stopped offering the vaccines. Publix grocery stores have started in many counties except Duval County where Mayo Clinic is located. The Regency Mall in Jacksonville FL looks like a rodeo where you see crowds impossible to get through. Long lines of elderly people exposed to the inclements of weather since at this time of the year it can get cold here in Jacksonville. So how Mayo Clinic will treat the rest of the 65 + years old patients remaining who are being treated by other specialists in Mayo Clinic who don’t have a Mayo PCP? We are under the requirements to be able to get it. By the way, I understand high risk patients and healthcare staff are a priority and that there are 4 Phases to get it but what Category or Phase do we fit in? Thanks

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Spoke with my Oncologist on Friday 1/22 and she said the Oncology dept has no idea when we will be notified about the vaccine. Hopefully Mayo (here in Jax) will receive more soon. Apparently they have their own Covid board in charge. I asked about going to the Regency Mall and she thought it was a dangerous situation to put myself in. So, I will wait.

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1 reply
baq315a | @baq315a | Jan 24, 2021

I would like to say something more hopeful Vivian and others but I am 68 years old have had a primary care doctor at Mayo for over 10 years and they've taken care of most but not all of my specialty complications I just can't get through to Mayo to help them understand that we don't want any more requests for their fundraising efforts when they fail to connect to the single most important issue to us seniors which is our continued life Mayo needs to fight much harder to get vaccines for their patients and very frustrated and upset with the lack of prioritization at Mayo and the lack of diligence at getting more vaccines then Duval County or UF or Ascension or any of their other competitors

REPLY
1 reply
seaspray | @seaspray | Jan 24, 2021
In reply to @baq315a "I would like to say something more hopeful Vivian and others but I am 68 years..." + (show)
@baq315a

I would like to say something more hopeful Vivian and others but I am 68 years old have had a primary care doctor at Mayo for over 10 years and they've taken care of most but not all of my specialty complications I just can't get through to Mayo to help them understand that we don't want any more requests for their fundraising efforts when they fail to connect to the single most important issue to us seniors which is our continued life Mayo needs to fight much harder to get vaccines for their patients and very frustrated and upset with the lack of prioritization at Mayo and the lack of diligence at getting more vaccines then Duval County or UF or Ascension or any of their other competitors

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The fundraising keeps coming to me as well. It is too bad they don't communicate on our portal to their patients when we might be notified. At least tell us the order they are going in. The generic notifications are worthless.

REPLY
baq315a | @baq315a | Jan 24, 2021
In reply to @naiviv "I am a Mayo Clinic patient too but because I have Medicare no Internal Medicine doctor..." + (show)
@naiviv

I am a Mayo Clinic patient too but because I have Medicare no Internal Medicine doctor or Primary doctor in Mayo Clinic Florida is accepting new patients who have Medicare. I have been treated by the Spine Center doctors since 2020 but when I called them they don’t have information about the Covid vaccine and was told to call my PCP. I have a PCP outside Mayo Clinic now but they don’t have the vaccine and probably won’t have it. The FL Health Dept stopped offering the vaccines. Publix grocery stores have started in many counties except Duval County where Mayo Clinic is located. The Regency Mall in Jacksonville FL looks like a rodeo where you see crowds impossible to get through. Long lines of elderly people exposed to the inclements of weather since at this time of the year it can get cold here in Jacksonville. So how Mayo Clinic will treat the rest of the 65 + years old patients remaining who are being treated by other specialists in Mayo Clinic who don’t have a Mayo PCP? We are under the requirements to be able to get it. By the way, I understand high risk patients and healthcare staff are a priority and that there are 4 Phases to get it but what Category or Phase do we fit in? Thanks

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Can anyone point me to official Mayo policy on not accepting new Medicare patents, primary care or otherwise?

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 24, 2021
In reply to @baq315a "Can anyone point me to official Mayo policy on not accepting new Medicare patents, primary care..." + (show)
@baq315a

Can anyone point me to official Mayo policy on not accepting new Medicare patents, primary care or otherwise?

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@baq315a, I'm not sure what is official Mayo policy on accepting new Medicare patients but here is what their website says...

- Medicare - https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/insurance/accepted-insurance/medicare
- More about Medicare: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/insurance/accepted-insurance/medicare/more-on-medicare
- You can find out more about billing and insurance at Mayo Clinic here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/insurance/accepted-insurance/medicare/more-on-medicare
Have you tried calling the billing office for one of the Mayo Clinic locations?

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2 replies
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 24, 2021
In reply to @seaspray "Spoke with my Oncologist on Friday 1/22 and she said the Oncology dept has no idea..." + (show)
@seaspray

Spoke with my Oncologist on Friday 1/22 and she said the Oncology dept has no idea when we will be notified about the vaccine. Hopefully Mayo (here in Jax) will receive more soon. Apparently they have their own Covid board in charge. I asked about going to the Regency Mall and she thought it was a dangerous situation to put myself in. So, I will wait.

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Hello, seaspray. (a 'beachy? I'm in SS) The Mayo Jax Covid Task Force notified me on the online patient portal to make an appt for the vaccine. I got it a couple of weeks ago. I hope to get the 2nd shot Feb 3. if available. Like you, my only non-Mayo doc is my PCP. The same issue re Medicare. Really mucks up the works for me and smooth care w/clear, easy communication, but....I hope the Clinic will soon change this policy, It will help a lot of us.

But, till then, I'm so thankful for the opportunity to see the doctors I do. They have truly saved me from tougher times with this aging body! I don't have many things that aren't great to say about that place. But, this is an area I do hope they can address.

I hope and pray Jax gets more vaccines asap and we can all move forward....I wouldn't think of going to Regency at all! For me, standing in line with a bunch of folks for anything with what we're dealing with isn't on my agenda! I feel the same re the Mandarin site....I'm thankful for Mayo, but have been surprised they haven't led the way here. In JAX, the Baptist Health roll-out has been far from stellar. There's been almost zero info from them w/no patient vaccines as far as I've seen.

Nice chatting w/you, neighbor. Enjoy that ocean! Blessings. elizabeth

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