Patients Asked to Request COVID-19 Vaccine

Published On: March 9th, 2021|Categories: News|

In preparation for moving on to the next phases of COVID-19 vaccination priority, the Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic (MCHC) is requesting people send an email to our new vaccine request email address VAX@mchospital.org if they are still in need of the vaccine. Or, if calling is easier, our vaccine request voice mail line is still available at 507.642.5214. In your message, please include:

  • First Name, Middle Name, Last Name
  • Phone Number
  • Date of Birth
  • Your employer if you are an essential worker or the illnesses that qualify you for the shot

When MCHC has vaccine available, we will call to set up an appointment. We will start with the oldest patients, continuing down the list until we get to those that are just 18. Patients may be asked to go to our clinics in Madelia or Lake Crystal, or the Lake Crystal Pharmacy to receive their vaccination.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Vaccine New Priority Groups:

The first phase includes:

  • People with specific underlying health conditions: Sickle cell disease, Down syndrome, those in cancer treatment or immunocompromised from organ transplant, oxygen-dependent chronic lung and heart conditions (COPD & CHF)
  • Targeted essential workers: Food processing plant workers
  • Minnesotans with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of severe illness
  • These groups will receive priority when scheduling appointments.

The second phase includes:

  • People 45+ with one or more underlying health conditions identified by the CDC
  • People 16+ with two or more underlying health conditions
  • People with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of severe illness
  • People 50+ in multi-generational housing
  • Essential frontline workers: Agricultural, airport staff, additional child care workers not previously eligible, correctional settings, first responders, food production, food retail, food service, judicial system workers, manufacturing, public health workers, public transit, U.S. Postal Service workers.

We will also continue to vaccinate people age 65 years and older, essential workers in child care and all staff that work in public, non-public and tribal schools.

The State of Minnesota allocates limited quantities of the vaccine to facilities like MCHC, but we do not know how much or what kind of vaccine will be supplied until three to four days before it arrives. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart; the Moderna vaccine requires two doses, 28 days apart. For these vaccines, the patient needs to be available for two appointments to receive both doses. We are also beginning to receive the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) product, which only requires one shot.

MCHC is not the only medical entity administering vaccines. If you are contacted by another health care system, by the state or county first, we encourage you to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Please do not make appointments with two different entities.

We encourage patients to watch our Facebook page and our website www.mchospital.org for the latest information and announcements regarding vaccine distribution.

Concerns about the vaccine’s effectiveness and side effects have been minimal. The risks of COVID-19 far outweigh any risk from the vaccine.

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