COVID-19 newsletter - January 6, 2022

  • News
  • Jan 6, 2022
COVID-19 Newsletter

What’s new?

Pfizer boosters available at five months after primary series
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) updated recommendations for when many people can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot. People who completed the Pfizer primary series may receive the Pfizer booster five months after completing their primary series. The booster interval recommendation for people who received the J&J vaccine (two months) or the Moderna vaccine (six months) has not changed.

Additional primary dose for certain immunocompromised children
The CDC and MDH recommend that moderately or severely immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11 receive an additional primary dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their second shot.

Isolation and quarantine periods updated
The CDC shortened the recommended time for isolation for people testing positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five days, if asymptomatic. This is to be followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.

The CDC and the MDH recommended the following quarantine periods for those exposed to COVID-19:

  • People not vaccinated or more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted: The CDC now recommends quarantining for five days. They should follow up with strict mask use for an additional five days.
  • People who received their booster shot: These individuals do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure when around others.
  • All who have been exposed: Anyone exposed to COVID should get tested five days after the point of exposure. If symptoms develop, get tested and quarantine immediately. 

Vaccine and booster remain best line of defense against COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccination decreases the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. The CDC strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for everyone five and older and boosters for everyone 12 and older. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.  

The CDC also continues to recommend layered prevention strategies. People should get vaccinated, get boosted when eligible, wear masks in indoor public places, get tested when recommended, wash hands frequently, and stay home when feeling ill. 

Travel guidance
The CDC and MDH encourage the public to protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated and by wearing a mask on public transportation. All travelers should take the following steps to protect themselves and others:

  • Delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. You should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if you are eligible.
  • Check your destination’s COVID-19 situation before traveling. State, local, and territorial governments may have travel restrictions in place.
  • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required in indoor areas of public transportation (including airplanes) and indoors in U.S. transportation hubs (including airports).
  • Do not travel if you have been exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, or if you test positive for COVID-19.
  • If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, get tested both before and after your trip.

Internationally
Travel requirements have changed. All air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than one day before travel to the United States. Check out COVID-19 travel recommendations by foreign destinations to view transmission rates in other countries.

Cruise ship travel
The CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for cruise ship travelers.
The chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high because the virus spreads easily between people in close quarters aboard ships.

The following groups of people should avoid traveling on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide:

  • People who are not fully vaccinated.
  • People with an increased risk of severe illness, regardless of vaccination status.

People who decide to go on a cruise should get tested 1–3 days before their trip and 3–5 days after their trip, regardless of vaccination status.

Updates from OCPHS, Mayo Clinic, and OMC

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS)
Olmsted County continues to remain in a high level of community transmission. The CDC classifies counties as having high community transmission if they have had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days. Last week, Olmsted County had 404 new cases per 100,000 people.

OCPHS COVID-19 Pfizer booster clinic on January 8
Olmsted County Public Health Services will be holding a clinic for individuals to receive their COVID Pfizer booster on Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 9 a.m. to noon. Only Pfizer boosters will be administered at this clinic and you must register in advance. 

  • Date: January 8, 2022 from 9 a.m. to noon
  • Registration link: https://webapp.co.olmsted.mn.us/VaccineClinicRegistrations
  • Passcode for registration: New2
  • Vaccination location: 2100 Campus Dr. SE, Rochester, MN (Olmsted County Public Health building)

This clinic is limited to 300 slots. If you are interested in the booster dose but unable to participate in this Olmsted County Public Health clinic, please visit Vaccines.gov to find other vaccine locations near you. 

Mayo Clinic
Patients ages five and older are eligible to be vaccinated. Individuals or parents and guardians can self-schedule a vaccination appointment now:

  • Use your Patient Online Services account to schedule an appointment online or through the Mayo Clinic app.
  • Call the Rochester campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or weekends from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: 507-538-4040.
  • If you don’t have a Patient online Services account, call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398.

Following the January 5 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting, Mayo Clinic is planning for COVID-19 booster vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds to roll out at most Mayo Clinic locations beginning Monday, January 10, 2022.

Additional changes in this round of CDC recommendations include:

  • Decrease in the wait time between last vaccine dose and booster to five months instead of six months for all who received the Pfizer vaccine. The six-month wait time stays the same for those who received the Moderna vaccine.
  • Recommendation that children 5 to 11 years of age who are moderately or severely immunosuppressed receive a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their last vaccine dose.

If you are eligible to receive a booster dose COVID-19 vaccine, check COVID-19 vaccine options by Mayo Clinic campus.

Eligible patients and staff may also seek a booster dose through a community vaccination site or local pharmacy.

12- to 15-year-old patients who are five months past their initial Pfizer vaccination series will be contacted through Patient Online Services or by letter.
Patients can schedule an appointment through Patient Online Services on the computer, through the Mayo Clinic app, or by calling their local clinic:

  • For Rochester, call 507-538-4040.
  • For Mayo Clinic Health System in Southeast Minnesota, call 507-434-9929.

Olmsted Medical Center (OMC)
OMC is scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children ages 5 to 11. To schedule an appointment, call 507-292-7300.

OMC will offer COVID-19 boosters to children 12-15 beginning Thursday, January 13, 2022. Parents can call 507-292-7300 beginning January 7, 2022 to schedule an appointment.

Individuals ages 12 and older can schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 booster. OMC is offering the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine boosters for patients who completed their primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.

OMC continues to schedule appointments for first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for patients ages five through adult.

To schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, call 507-292-7300. Appointments are available on Thursdays.