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.