COVID-19 vaccination

Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Minnesota is providing COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to people who are eligible according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Vaccination for children

Children under age 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their appointment to provide consent for the vaccination. Alternatively, the child can bring a signed consent form completed by their parent or guardian. In the "Limitations" box on the form, write "Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine."

Ages 5–12

A parent or legal guardian must make the appointment for children ages 5‒12. Schedule COVID-19 vaccination using the child's Patient Online Services caregiver account or the Mayo Clinic app. If you don't have a caregiver account for your child, call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 1-877-858-0398 weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Otherwise, call 507-594-2100 to schedule an appointment.

Ages 13–15

Patients 13 and older can self-schedule a vaccination appointment using Patient Online Services or the Mayo Clinic app, or by calling 507-594-2100. If you do not have a Patient Online Services account, you can create one online or by calling 1-877-858-0398, weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CST.

• Instructions for self-scheduling online: Print | Video
• Instructions for self-scheduling if your provider has sent you a request to schedule vaccination through Patient Online Services: Print | Video

Parents and guardians of minors ages 13–17 can schedule online for these minors only if they have caregiver access to the minor's account. To set up caregiver access, the minor and a parent or guardian can call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 1-877-858-0398 weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Choose option "4" from the phone menu options. Read more about caregiver access.

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COVID-19 booster vaccinations

Three types of vaccines have been authorized and approved. You may get a booster vaccination if you received:

• Pfizer
  Are age 12 and older and it's been at least five months after completing the primary series; ages 12–17 may only get a Pfizer booster
  Are age 5–11, it's been at least 28 days after completing the primary series, and you are moderately or severely immunocompromised
• Moderna
  Are age 18 and older and it's been at least five months after completing the primary series
• Johnson & Johnson
  Are age 18 and older and it's been at least two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccination

Mix and match vaccines

Current recommendations are that the booster vaccine be the same brand as utilized for the initial vaccine series. However, Mayo Clinic will follow the mix and match strategy approved by the Food and Drug Administration in cases:

• Where a provider or patient feel a different vaccine brand would be more appropriate
• Where there are concerns about the side effect profile of a particular brand
• Where the vaccine brand used for the initial vaccine series is not available

Scheduling your booster vaccination

Schedule an appointment online using Patient Online Services or the Mayo Clinic app to receive your booster vaccination. Or call 507-594-2100 to schedule an appointment.

If you are a Mayo Clinic Health System patient and are 65 and older, you will be contacted through Patient Online Services or by letter to schedule an appointment. Mayo Clinic Health System will not send formal communication if you are:

• 18 and older and at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection
• 18 and older and your institutional or occupational exposure to COVID-19 puts you at high risk of severe infection

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Guidance for your vaccination appointment

For your vaccination appointments:

• Bring your insurance card with you to your appointment*.
• Arrive on time (no more than five minutes early).
• Wear a mask.
• Expect your appointment to last 10–15 minutes. Please be aware that persons with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to eggs or any other substance should plan to stay to be observed for 30 minutes after vaccination.
• Schedule an appointment for your second dose of vaccine before leaving.
• Children under 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their appointment to provide consent for the vaccination. Alternatively, the child can bring a signed consent form completed by their parent or guardian. In the “Limitations” box on the form, please write “Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.”

*The COVID-19 vaccine will be free. However, vaccine administration charges will be billed to insurance. We anticipate that the fee for vaccine administration will be covered by the payer at 100%, and patients will not be billed for any unpaid charges. Patients and staff will need to bring their insurance card when they receive the vaccine.

After your vaccination appointment:

• Continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands often.
• Monitor for signs of an allergic reaction, including hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. If you have any of these signs, call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest Emergency Department.
• Monitor yourself for possible side effects.