COVID Updates
Check back frequently for the latest information about the Corona Virus and COVID Vaccines.
Madison County Memorial Hospital received the Moderna vaccine. Using a tiered distribution plan – based on the number of vaccines received, priority populations 65+, and employees with direct patient contact who wish to receive the vaccine were served first. The hospital is now administering vaccines to the under 65 (U65) population with vulnerable and extremely vulnerable conditions. As updates are made available we will continue to post information on this page at mcmh.us/COVID.
Still not sure and need additional information?
- Why Get Vaccinated
- What to Expect
- Fact Sheet for Recipients
- Federal Guidelines recommend a minimum of fourteen (14) days between vaccinations. If you have had a Flu shot please schedule accordingly.
- If you have had COVID, manufacturer recommends a (14) day waiting period before receiving the vaccine, please schedule accordingly.
We have received an additional shipment of vaccines to serve at-risk populations ages 18 to 64. Likewise the Madison County Health Department is currently administering vaccines. If you are 65+ please click here to sign up to receive the vaccine from the health department.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 64, please click to Register by completing the online form to get qualified to receive the vaccine. People in this age bracket with pre-existing, at-risk conditions are eligible to receive the vaccine. After you complete the Registration Form, a logistics coordinator will contact you to conduct the screening process, validate your condition, and schedule an appointment.
If you selected one or more condition on the registration form, please continue following the process by completing the Screening and Consent Form and gather the required documentation while your appointment is being confirmed.
Click to register.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 64 and have one or more at-risk condition, please follow these instructions to better prepare for your appointment.
- Click on this link to access our FORMS page and complete the REGISTRATION form.
- Click on this link to access our FORMS page and complete the SCREENING form.
- Bring a picture ID and insurance cards and present them to the logistics coordinator at the Front Lobby Pavilion.
- If you have a valid prescription for one of the at-risk conditions, please bring your prescription with you.
- If you have a diagnosed condition without a prescription you need to bring the diagnosis documentation and/or care plan with you for validation.
- If you do not have supporting documentation you need to request a letter from your primary care physician or specialist.
- Enter from NW Crane Avenue and turn right into the hospital parking lot near Lanier Field parking and NFC Cottages. Click here for a map.
- Only prescheduled appointments are allowed.
- Remain in your car and the logistics coordinator will check you in, verify your paperwork, and set you up to receive the vaccine. Remain in your car the entire time.
- Once the Logistics Coordinator has your paperwork validated a member from the clinical staff will administer the shot from the vehicle.
- Walk-up scheduled appointments are facilitated under the pavilion and chairs are provided while you wait.
- If you have never had a reaction to a vaccine you should anticipate waiting 15 minutes after the shot for observation. Once you are cleared, you can go about your day.
- If you have had a reaction in the past, you should anticipate waiting 25 minutes for observation.
- You will be given a card noting the date of the first vaccine and a follow-up appointment for the second is scheduled before you leave the hospital.
- After the initial shot you receive a reminder within a couple of weeks to return for a booster shot after twenty-eight (28) days. There is a recommended four (4) days prior to the 28th day or no more than 14 days after the 28th day to return for the booster.
- The same process is used for Booster shots. Return to the hospital at the date and time noted on your Vaccine Appointment Card. Present your card to the logistics coordinator on arrival. Wait in your vehicle and repeat the process followed during your first vaccination.
- Question about your specific situation, please consult with your physician we are not able to give out medical advice.
We have created this space as a place to communicate with the members of our community about COVID updates from the hospital, community partners, and state and federal government. Please click on the various tabs below to learn more about changes at the hospital in response to the virus, COVID News, COVID Safety, COVID Testing, COVID Data provided by the Department of Health, and to find out more or participate in the COVID Vaccination process.
COVID News and Information
Dear Patients, Families, Friends, Volunteers,
We are committed to keeping our residents safe and we need your help. The virus causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (abbreviated COVID-19) can cause outbreaks in hospitals. Many of our patients are elderly and may have medical conditions putting them at a very high risk of becoming sick, or even severely ill, with COVID-19. Visitors and staff are the most likely sources of introduction of the virus that causes COVID-19 into a facility. To protect our vulnerable patients, we are taking the following aggressive actions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our patients and staff:
1. Until further notice: We are restricting all visitation.
All visitation is being restricted except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end of life situations. These visitors will first be screened for fever and illness. We know that your presence is important for your loved one but, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is a necessary action to protect their health. Alternative methods of visitation (such as Skype and FaceTime) are available so that you can continue to communicate with your loved ones. Visitors who are permitted to enter the building will be required to social distance (remain 6 feet away from everyone while onsite), frequently clean their hands, limit their visit to a designated area within the building, and wear a facemask. As the situation with COVID-19 is rapidly changing, we will continue to keep you updated.
2. We are monitoring staff and patients for symptoms of illness. Staff will be actively monitored for fever and symptoms of COVID-19. All employees will be asked to stay home. You will see staff wearing facemasks, eye protection, gown, and gloves in order to prevent germs from spreading and help keep patients safe. Staff will clean their hands frequently. We are assessing patients frequently for fevers and symptoms of COVID-19 in order to quickly identify ill patients and implement additional infection prevention activities. When ill patients are identified, they will be monitored closely, asked to stay in their rooms or wear a mask if required to leave the room.
3. We are limiting activities within the facility and cancelling all group activities. We will be helping patients practice social distancing and encouraging frequent hand hygiene.
We encourage you to review the CDC website by clicking here for information about COVID-19, including its symptoms, how it spreads, and actions you can take to protect your health.
Thank you very much for everything you are doing to keep our patients and staff safe and healthy. We continue to monitor the situation in our community; we will keep you informed about any new precautions we think are necessary to keep your loved one safe.
Sincerely,
Tammy Stevens
Tammy Stevens, CEO
Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) is taking additional steps to protect patients, family members, staff and the community from the transmission and community spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. For the safety of everyone and to prevent the spread of this virus, we are taking specific temporary actions to limit visitors and minimize entries and exits into the facility. However, we understand the benefits of our patients having a loved one be part of their healing process.
Visitors can expect to receive a temperature screening and be asked several health-related questions. If you have a temperature greater than 99.9 or answer “yes” to any of the health care screening questions, you will not be allowed to visit. Please answer the screening questions honestly to avoid potential exposure to our workforce and patients and cause unnecessary health risks, including but not limited to the death of others.
- All visitors must properly wear a protective face mask provided by MCMH while in the hospital. If a visitor is not allowed or willing to wear a mask as indicated in this image, they will be asked to leave the hospital.
- All visitors must use hand sanitizer upon entering the building, again upon entry into any area (patient rooms), throughout the entire visit, and before exiting the hospital.
- All visitors are always required to wear a visitor pass provided by MCMH while inside the facility.
Additional Visitation Guidelines
- No visitors allowed for patients under investigation or testing for COVID-19; or who are in an infectious disease isolation room.
- No visitors in the Medical/Surgical Units except for special considerations. A visitor guide is provided to each visitor at the screening station point of entry.
- No visitors for Emergency Department patients, except for special considerations.
- One accompanying person for Surgery patients, except for special considerations.
- One designated caregiver for Pediatric patients.
Visitors will be allowed under these special considerations:
- Patients who are at end-of-life may have two visitors at one time. Family and friends will be able to rotate out safely if they pass the screening process. A visitor guide is made available to each visitor.
- Minor patients under the age of 17 may have one visitor (parent or guardian).
- Patients who have behavioral health needs or developmental delays (where caregiver provides safety) may have one visitor.
- We strongly discourage visitors over the age of 70 with chronic health conditions.
- Patients seeking emergency care will enter through the ER entrance—which is open 24/7. The front entrance door to the hospital is closed until further notice.
- We will provide updates as conditions change. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we face the COVID-19 pandemic together.
We encourage you to review the CDC website for information about COVID-19, including its symptoms, how it spreads, and actions you can take to protect your health.
Thank you very much for everything you are doing to keep our patients, staff, and community safe and healthy. We continue to monitor the situation in our community; we will keep you informed about any new precautions we think are necessary to keep your loved one safe.
See COVID Press Releases by Madison County Memorial Hospital by Clicking on the Links Below:
- Click here to download the Joint Press Release from DOH-M, EOC, and MCMH
- Public Health Advisory-Florida Covid-19_Vaccinations
- Click here to download the latest Executive Order from Governor DESANTIS eo_20-315
- Governor_Ron_DeSantis_Announces_Executive_Order_Prioritizing_Vaccination_for_Individuals_65_and_Older, December 23, 2020
- COVID-19 Madison County Memorial Hospital 2nd Employee Positive
- COVID-19 Madison County Memorial Hospital Employee Tested Positive June 1, 2020
- COVID-19 Help Keep Our Patients Safe – Madison County Memorial Hospital
- COVID-19 Recommendations – Madison County Memorial Hospital
- Click here to read more about Florida’s Plan
- Click here to read about America’s Plan
Jefferson County Health Department
1255 W. Washington Street
Monticello, FL 32344
Call (850) 342-0170 for information
Madison County Health Department
218 SW Third Avenue
Madison, FL 32340
Call (850) 973-5000 for information
Addition Data Sources for COVID
- Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Response information here.
COVID Reports
COVID Frequently Asked Questions
MCMH received its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine December 23, 2020. MCMH has a tiered distribution plan with priority going to those working in higher-risk areas.
MCMH established a working group who reviewed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for vaccine distribution and developed a plan to administer the vaccine and report immunization records to Florida SHOTS. Our plan is already in place and includes having the right equipment on-hand to store and distribute the vaccines.
Distribution guidelines have been established by the CDC to prioritize people in high-risk areas first. Currently, we are in phase 1a of the vaccine distribution plan which includes healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
MCMH employees and contract staff will be encouraged, but not required at this time, to receive the vaccine.
Due to limited supplies of vaccines, priority has been given to healthcare workers and long-term care residents as these groups have a high-risk of exposure to the virus. Many experts expect the vaccine to be available for the general public in spring 2021.
No. The vaccine does not contain the live virus that would cause COVID-19. Instead, it is designed to help you develop antibodies to help recognize and prevent the virus from causing infection. After receiving the vaccine, you may not feel well for a few days as the vaccination will trigger an immune response. However, symptoms such as runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell are not consistent with post vaccination adverse effects and may indicate COVID-19 infection.
These COVID-19 vaccines, as with all vaccines, are not 100% effective, but are an important part of managing the pandemic. MCMH will still require masks, social distancing, and proper hand hygiene in our facility.
The two vaccines that have been currently approved require two doses.
Vaccine safety is determined in terms of “adverse events”, or when a patient experiences a negative effect after receiving their dose. Guidelines around this are very stringent, and too many or too severe events will cause a vaccine to be terminated during initial trials. By the time a vaccine reaches consumers, the risk of a negative outcome is very low.
Both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are mRNA vaccines, and AstraZeneca’s and Johnson & Johnson’s are non-replicating vectored vaccines. None of the early vaccines being tested are live weakened versions of the virus.
Both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are genetically manufactured and do not have a human or blood component.
There is not enough information currently available to say if or when the CDC will stop recommending people wear masks and avoid close contact with others to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Experts need to understand more about the protection the COVID-19 vaccines provide before making that decision. Other factors, including how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities, will also affect this decision.
The protection someone gains from having an infection (called natural immunity) varies depending on the disease, and it varies from person to person. Since this virus is new, we do not know how long natural immunity might last.
Regarding vaccination, we will not know how long immunity lasts until we have more data on how well it works over a longer period of time.
Both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and we continue to look to the CDC for guidance.
The protection someone gains from having an infection (called natural immunity) varies depending on the disease, and it varies from person to person. Since this virus is new, we do not know how long natural immunity might last. What we do know up to this point is that the reinfection rate appears to be very low.
Pfizer has indicated their vaccine has an efficacy rate of 95%, Moderna has announced its vaccine is 94.5% effective. AstraZeneca’s vaccine efficacy has yet to be clearly stated, but it ranges between 60- 90%.
Both vaccines will require two doses. An initial vaccination and then a second dose either three or four weeks later. The Pfizer vaccine requires a booster 21 days later and the Moderna vaccine requires a second dose 28 days later. The different vaccine products are not to be interchangeable. The second dose must be completed with the same vaccine brand as the first dose. Both doses are important to ensure full protection.
These two COVID-19 vaccines do not reach their maximum effectiveness unless you receive the two doses. Your second dose will be scheduled after you get your first shot.
It normally takes about two to three weeks for immunity to develop. In the Pfizer vaccine clinical trial, the drop in infection rate between the vaccine group and the placebo group started around 14 days after the first dose.
Pfizer has said that some Phase III clinical trial participants experienced mild-to-moderate side effects with its investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Scientists anticipate the shots may cause mild flu-like side effects — including sore arms, muscle aches and fever.
No. These vaccines will not cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response, which is the goal of vaccination, there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection or vaccination and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.
Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.
Scientists are still studying this and will determine this once the vaccine is distributed and more data is available.
Yes. We continue to follow CDC guidance on this subject.
The vaccines preliminary data shows it is 60-95% effective so there is a subset of the population that will not gain immunity from the vaccine. Furthermore, the protective effect of the vaccine may take at least one month. While experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions, it will be important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us to help stop this pandemic, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others.
Unfortunately, the vaccine is not the proverbial “light switch” to turn off the COVID-19 pandemic. It will take some time.
What is the criteria for U65 Population?
We are planning to follow the guidelines presented by AHCA that outlines key at-risk conditions such as:
- Clinically extremely vulnerable
- Solid Organ Transplant and Bone Marrow Transplant Patients
- Cancer patients undergoing active treatment
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Adults with Down Syndrome
- Vulnerable
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Liver Disease
- Chronic Heart Disease, such as severe heart failure
- BMI > 40
- HIV/AIDS
- Chronic Neurological Conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy
- Current prescription and picture ID.
- Diagnosis and/or care plan from your primary care physician or specialist.
Go to our website: www.mcmh.us/COVID. You will find a scheduling form that allows you to give us your information and then one of our logistics coordinators will contact you to schedule and appointment.
Yes, you do need a scheduled appointment. Each bottle holds a total of 10 vaccines, therefore it is critical for us to have the exact number of people as vaccines. There are very strict storage and administration guidelines. The vaccine must remain frozen until time to do the shot. Once it is thawed we have a six hour window to give the shot. Once we pull the medicine up into a vial, we have two hours to administer the shot, so appointments are critical.
We administer the shots through a drive thru system. You pull to the front of the hospital, we get all of the appropriate documentation and signatures, administer the shot, and then each person waits in the car for 15 minutes to make sure there is no reaction and then you are allowed to leave.
You can contact the public relations department at 850-253-1961 or email levans@mcmh.us most importantly, go online and provide your information and you will be added to the communication list to stay up to date with the latest information. www.mcmh.us/blog or follow us on Facebook @madisoncountymemorialhospitalMCMH.