COVID-19 vaccine newsletter - April 20, 2021

  • News
  • Apr 20, 2021

What’s new?

Variants

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) is closely monitoring variants of concern (VOC). These variants have mutations that alter the characteristics and cause the virus to act differently in ways that are significant to public health (e.g., causes more severe disease, spreads more easily between humans, requires different treatments, changes the effectiveness of current vaccines).

The COVID-19 variant B117 is now the United States' dominant coronavirus strain and is circulating throughout Minnesota. COVID-19 case numbers are increasing across the state and locally – largely due to variants and not adhering to COVID prevention measures. The B117 virus is showing to be more infectious and more likely to cause severe disease; however, vaccines are showing good protection levels against the variants.

Experts believe kids are more likely to spread this new variant, yet they do not know if it’s causing more serious reactions in children. The positive news is that Pfizer is reporting that its vaccine has a 100% efficacy rate in kids between the ages of 12 and 15, which could mean that kids are a few months away from being eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and ready for school in the fall.

National Volunteer Week

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) wants to thank our 200+ Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers who have stepped up in incredible ways over the last year to assist with the pandemic response. As of this week, our MRC volunteers have worked 95 shifts totaling nearly 450 hours at the Graham Park Collaborative Testing Site and our vaccination clinics. Volunteers have assisted with dozens of assignments including greeting and helping people check-in, verifying forms, ushering them along the queue lines, drawing up and administering vaccines, providing guidance and directions, and offering comfort through a warm smile and comforting presence.

Second doses

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have two doses and it is very important to get both doses for the best protection against COVID-19 disease. Both doses need to be the same type of vaccine product. Doses are given three to four weeks apart depending on which two-dose vaccine you get. Keep your second dose appointment; rescheduling may take several weeks and could be challenging. Your health care provider/pharmacy/public health department will assist you in getting a second dose, but there may be significant delays.

Vaccination status

Steady progress continues to be made – and Olmsted County is ahead of the state in vaccinations for all age groups.

As of 4/18/21, People with at least one vaccine dose: 82,237. People with completed vaccine series: 64,672.
Vaccines given as of 4/20/21

Vaccine Updates

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS)

More than 50% of American adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and a quarter of the population has been fully vaccinated. In Minnesota, over one-third of our eligible population (16+) is fully vaccinated, and Olmsted County continues to surpass the state in all age groups.

OCPHS continues to receive regular vaccine allotments each week and is offering the vaccine to essential workers, youths ages 16-17, and others as vaccine supplies allow. When clinics have openings, individuals can register for an appointment. Clinic openings change often; individuals should check the website daily for updates. To date, over 18,000 individuals have received vaccinations at one of our clinics.

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic will continue to follow a balanced approach, in accordance with state directives, as it continues to prioritize vaccination for patients. Mayo will send vaccine appointment invitations to patients with underlying conditions and as vaccine supply allows, increase vaccination opportunities for Minnesota residents who are 16 and older.

Mayo Clinic patients who have a Patient Online Services account are invited to check the New Appointments section to see if appointments are available. If you don't have a Patient Online Services account, call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398 (toll-free) to create one. If no appointments are available, check back as appointments are released as vaccine is received, or check the VaccineFinder page at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the MDH Vaccine Connector, which lists vaccination location information.

Olmsted Medical Center (OMC)

All patients 16 years of age and older are invited to call 507-292-7300 to schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Appointments will typically be available Wednesday through Friday (depending on the amount of vaccine we receive) and will take place at the Rochester Northwest Clinic.

OMC will also continue to reach out to patients in the following ways.

  • A message to your OMC MyChart patient portal account.
    • If you have email notifications for messages turned on, the email will read “a new COVID-19 vaccine scheduling ticket available in OMC MyChart.”
    • If you have questions about OMC MyChart, you can call 507-287-2780 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday).
  • By phone or text message for individuals who do not have an OMC MyChart account.

OMC follows COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and guidelines provided by the Minnesota Department of Health and the State of Minnesota. Although vaccine is allotted each week by the State of Minnesota, it is unknown from week to week how much vaccine OMC will receive. Please be aware that it will take time and patience to vaccinate all patients who want to be vaccinated. This is because the demand for the vaccine is much greater than the supply.

For information on other vaccination options in Olmsted County, we invite you to visit the Olmsted County vaccine webpage.

Education / information

On the verge of another COVID-19 surge?

In the latest Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses CDC guidelines and addresses other COVID-19 topics in the news, including recent data that says men are more vaccine-hesitant than women.