Mayo Clinic Change Language English Español Menu Menu Close Main Menu COVID-19 home COVID-19 vaccine: Guidance from Mayo Clinic Experience safe care Track COVID-19 cases Learn about COVID-19 Find out about COVID-19 & Flu Medical professionals Employers and businesses Latest news releases Researchers Contact us Request an appointment English Español Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mayo Clinic in Florida COVID-19 vaccination plan Mayo Clinic is committed to providing the best and safest care to all our patients as soon as possible. Mayo Clinic in Florida has been working with county and state agencies to support the fair and safe distribution of COVID-19 vaccine for Mayo Clinic patients. Beginning in April, all Florida residents will be eligible for a vaccine as prescribed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, the state of Florida is distributing vaccines primarily through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. We encourage Mayo Clinic patients in Florida to obtain a vaccination at their earliest opportunity. We also recommend that patients not wait for a particular manufacturer. The state of Florida has an online vaccine locator, which can be used to find active vaccination sites. Any questions about vaccines or their side effects should be directed first to the place you receive the vaccine. Mayo Clinic in Florida may receive limited first dose supplies of COVID-19 vaccine in the future and will resume on-site vaccination for patients at that time. Mayo Clinic will alert patients with a message in their Mayo Clinic Patient Online Services account or via a text message. Patients who do not currently have a portal account may create one online. Frequently asked questions Why have I not received an invitation to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Mayo Clinic in Florida is receiving limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccine, as the state of Florida is distributing vaccines primarily through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. As more COVID-19 vaccines become available to us, more people will be offered vaccination appointments. If you are offered the vaccine sooner by other health care facilities, we encourage you to receive it there. The state of Florida has an online vaccine locator to assist in finding open COVID-19 vaccination sites. Why did I receive an invitation for the vaccine but my spouse did not? As COVID-19 vaccines became available, Mayo Clinic in Florida, in accordance with state guidelines, prioritized patients at the highest risk of complications from COVID-19 to receive the vaccine first. This prioritization algorithm considered the patient's age, gender and other medical problems that increase the risk of complications from COVID-19. As such, patients in the same household may not have received an invitation to be vaccinated at the same time. Even patients of a similar age with similar medical problems may not have been invited at the same time. As we receive future vaccine supplies, Mayo Clinic in Florida will continue to distribute vaccines in accordance with direction from the state and federal government. I have an upcoming appointment with my Mayo Clinic primary care provider. Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine at my appointment? We know receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is important to you and it is understandable that you would like to receive the vaccination during this visit. However, the state of Florida is currently prioritizing vaccine distribution through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. If we receive future vaccine supplies, Mayo Clinic in Florida will distribute vaccines in accordance with state and federal government guidelines. I would like the COVID-19 vaccine but am currently not a Mayo Clinic in Florida patient. Can I schedule an appointment? We wish we were able to accommodate all who wanted the vaccine. At this time, only family members of Mayo Clinic employees and existing Mayo Clinic patients will be offered a vaccination for COVID-19 when we have adequate vaccine supplies. I am an established Mayo Clinic in Florida patient but do not have a Mayo Clinic primary care provider. Can I schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Currently, the state of Florida is distributing vaccines through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. However, if you are a registered Mayo Clinic patient and have been seen at Mayo Clinic in Florida in the past year, you will be eligible to receive the vaccine when we have new vaccine supplies. As supplies increase in 2021, we anticipate that the program will expand to include broader patient populations. If you are offered the vaccine sooner by another health care provider, county health department or area pharmacy, we encourage you to receive it there. I am a family member of a Mayo Clinic employee. When can I schedule my COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Yes, as vaccine supplies become available, appointments for staff at Mayo Clinic in Florida and eligible family members can be scheduled beginning April 5, 2021. Eligible family members include employee spouses, dependents age 16 and older, parents of employees, employee family caregivers, or other household members of the employee. Dependents who are 16 or 17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign the consent. These individuals do not need to have been a patient previously at Mayo Clinic. To arrange for a vaccination of a family member, employees must complete the Florida Employee Family Member COVID Vaccination Request form. Check the weekly Florida COVID Report for the link to the form. For appointments that cannot be scheduled, a waiting list will be started. I want to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but do I have a choice in the brand I receive? Vaccine supplies are allocated by the state. Mayo Clinic recommends that patients not wait for a particular brand of vaccine, as they all have been shown to be effective. If you are offered the opportunity, Mayo Clinic encourages you to take the vaccine at your earliest convenience. I have received my first COVID-19 vaccine dose. Do I need to get the second Pfizer BioNTech dose exactly at 21 days or the second Moderna dose at 28 days? No. You are encouraged to get your second dose of the vaccine at the specific time indicated but you may delay that by a few days if there are scheduling constraints. Completing the second dose maximizes the immune benefits offered through vaccination. I became infected with COVID-19 after receiving my first COVID-19 vaccine dose. Should I proceed with the second dose? We recommend proceeding with the second dose for patients who do not have active symptoms and are out of isolation. We recommend following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines if you received monoclonal antibodies, which is waiting 90 days for the second dose. What can I do until I receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Regardless of whether you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or not, it is important to continue to practice safe habits such as social distancing, wearing a mask properly outside your home, washing your hands frequently, and following state and local recommendations until the spread of the COVID-19 virus has stopped. Is the vaccine safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use for the COVID-19 vaccines, including authorization to vaccinate pregnant and breastfeeding women. Mayo Clinic follows the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, as well as independent data, which indicate that if pregnant and breastfeeding women so choose, they may be vaccinated for COVID-19. Patients are encouraged to speak with their health care providers about the benefits and risks of vaccination and consider what is known and what is not known to make an informed decision. I want my child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Are they eligible? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized one COVID-19 vaccine for people age 16 and up. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for people age 16 and older; the Moderna and Johnson &Johnson vaccines are approved for ages 18 and up. When vaccine supplies are available, Mayo Clinic will follow FDA and state guidelines to determine which residents are eligible to receive a vaccine. Is the vaccine safe for those with compromised immune systems? Vaccines can be given to people with weakened immunity, such as people with HIV or other immunosuppressed conditions. They may not get the same effective response as someone without compromised immunity. People with recent bone marrow transplantation should wait to be vaccinated until six months after transplantation to allow their immune systems to recover from the transplant. I heard that the COVID-19 vaccine is causing swollen underarm lymph nodes that are appearing on mammography. Should I postpone my vaccine or my upcoming mammogram? Reports of some patients developing swollen lymph nodes after a COVID-19 vaccination have raised questions about whether screening mammograms should be rescheduled due to concerns that this finding could be mistaken for a potential breast cancer diagnosis. Many vaccines can cause swollen lymph nodes under the arm where the vaccination was given. Mayo Clinic encourages women not to delay screening for breast cancer. Patients are also encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is possible, even if they're scheduled to have a mammogram. Patients should advise their mammography technician if they have received the vaccine and in which arm. Can those who have had COVID-19 get vaccinated for COVID-19? Yes. Mayo Clinic recommends vaccination for COVID-19 even for those who have had COVID-19 previously. However, those who had COVID-19 should delay vaccination until about 90 days from diagnosis. People should not get vaccinated if they are in quarantine after exposure or if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Will the COVID-19 vaccine be free? Yes, 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 insurance at 100% and that patients and staff will not be billed for any unpaid charges. Patients and staff will need to bring their insurance cards to their vaccination appointments. I have read the information on Mayo Clinic’s website but still have questions. Who can I call? Please feel free to contact our Mayo Clinic Florida Nurse COVID Line at 904-956-8775 (open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time). We are experiencing high call volumes, so please expect longer than usual wait times. Thank you for your patience.
Mayo Clinic is committed to providing the best and safest care to all our patients as soon as possible. Mayo Clinic in Florida has been working with county and state agencies to support the fair and safe distribution of COVID-19 vaccine for Mayo Clinic patients. Beginning in April, all Florida residents will be eligible for a vaccine as prescribed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, the state of Florida is distributing vaccines primarily through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. We encourage Mayo Clinic patients in Florida to obtain a vaccination at their earliest opportunity. We also recommend that patients not wait for a particular manufacturer. The state of Florida has an online vaccine locator, which can be used to find active vaccination sites. Any questions about vaccines or their side effects should be directed first to the place you receive the vaccine. Mayo Clinic in Florida may receive limited first dose supplies of COVID-19 vaccine in the future and will resume on-site vaccination for patients at that time. Mayo Clinic will alert patients with a message in their Mayo Clinic Patient Online Services account or via a text message. Patients who do not currently have a portal account may create one online. Frequently asked questions Why have I not received an invitation to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Mayo Clinic in Florida is receiving limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccine, as the state of Florida is distributing vaccines primarily through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. As more COVID-19 vaccines become available to us, more people will be offered vaccination appointments. If you are offered the vaccine sooner by other health care facilities, we encourage you to receive it there. The state of Florida has an online vaccine locator to assist in finding open COVID-19 vaccination sites. Why did I receive an invitation for the vaccine but my spouse did not? As COVID-19 vaccines became available, Mayo Clinic in Florida, in accordance with state guidelines, prioritized patients at the highest risk of complications from COVID-19 to receive the vaccine first. This prioritization algorithm considered the patient's age, gender and other medical problems that increase the risk of complications from COVID-19. As such, patients in the same household may not have received an invitation to be vaccinated at the same time. Even patients of a similar age with similar medical problems may not have been invited at the same time. As we receive future vaccine supplies, Mayo Clinic in Florida will continue to distribute vaccines in accordance with direction from the state and federal government. I have an upcoming appointment with my Mayo Clinic primary care provider. Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine at my appointment? We know receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is important to you and it is understandable that you would like to receive the vaccination during this visit. However, the state of Florida is currently prioritizing vaccine distribution through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. If we receive future vaccine supplies, Mayo Clinic in Florida will distribute vaccines in accordance with state and federal government guidelines. I would like the COVID-19 vaccine but am currently not a Mayo Clinic in Florida patient. Can I schedule an appointment? We wish we were able to accommodate all who wanted the vaccine. At this time, only family members of Mayo Clinic employees and existing Mayo Clinic patients will be offered a vaccination for COVID-19 when we have adequate vaccine supplies. I am an established Mayo Clinic in Florida patient but do not have a Mayo Clinic primary care provider. Can I schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Currently, the state of Florida is distributing vaccines through designated pharmacies and government-sponsored vaccine sites. However, if you are a registered Mayo Clinic patient and have been seen at Mayo Clinic in Florida in the past year, you will be eligible to receive the vaccine when we have new vaccine supplies. As supplies increase in 2021, we anticipate that the program will expand to include broader patient populations. If you are offered the vaccine sooner by another health care provider, county health department or area pharmacy, we encourage you to receive it there. I am a family member of a Mayo Clinic employee. When can I schedule my COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Yes, as vaccine supplies become available, appointments for staff at Mayo Clinic in Florida and eligible family members can be scheduled beginning April 5, 2021. Eligible family members include employee spouses, dependents age 16 and older, parents of employees, employee family caregivers, or other household members of the employee. Dependents who are 16 or 17 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign the consent. These individuals do not need to have been a patient previously at Mayo Clinic. To arrange for a vaccination of a family member, employees must complete the Florida Employee Family Member COVID Vaccination Request form. Check the weekly Florida COVID Report for the link to the form. For appointments that cannot be scheduled, a waiting list will be started. I want to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but do I have a choice in the brand I receive? Vaccine supplies are allocated by the state. Mayo Clinic recommends that patients not wait for a particular brand of vaccine, as they all have been shown to be effective. If you are offered the opportunity, Mayo Clinic encourages you to take the vaccine at your earliest convenience. I have received my first COVID-19 vaccine dose. Do I need to get the second Pfizer BioNTech dose exactly at 21 days or the second Moderna dose at 28 days? No. You are encouraged to get your second dose of the vaccine at the specific time indicated but you may delay that by a few days if there are scheduling constraints. Completing the second dose maximizes the immune benefits offered through vaccination. I became infected with COVID-19 after receiving my first COVID-19 vaccine dose. Should I proceed with the second dose? We recommend proceeding with the second dose for patients who do not have active symptoms and are out of isolation. We recommend following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines if you received monoclonal antibodies, which is waiting 90 days for the second dose. What can I do until I receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Regardless of whether you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or not, it is important to continue to practice safe habits such as social distancing, wearing a mask properly outside your home, washing your hands frequently, and following state and local recommendations until the spread of the COVID-19 virus has stopped. Is the vaccine safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use for the COVID-19 vaccines, including authorization to vaccinate pregnant and breastfeeding women. Mayo Clinic follows the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, as well as independent data, which indicate that if pregnant and breastfeeding women so choose, they may be vaccinated for COVID-19. Patients are encouraged to speak with their health care providers about the benefits and risks of vaccination and consider what is known and what is not known to make an informed decision. I want my child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Are they eligible? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized one COVID-19 vaccine for people age 16 and up. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for people age 16 and older; the Moderna and Johnson &Johnson vaccines are approved for ages 18 and up. When vaccine supplies are available, Mayo Clinic will follow FDA and state guidelines to determine which residents are eligible to receive a vaccine. Is the vaccine safe for those with compromised immune systems? Vaccines can be given to people with weakened immunity, such as people with HIV or other immunosuppressed conditions. They may not get the same effective response as someone without compromised immunity. People with recent bone marrow transplantation should wait to be vaccinated until six months after transplantation to allow their immune systems to recover from the transplant. I heard that the COVID-19 vaccine is causing swollen underarm lymph nodes that are appearing on mammography. Should I postpone my vaccine or my upcoming mammogram? Reports of some patients developing swollen lymph nodes after a COVID-19 vaccination have raised questions about whether screening mammograms should be rescheduled due to concerns that this finding could be mistaken for a potential breast cancer diagnosis. Many vaccines can cause swollen lymph nodes under the arm where the vaccination was given. Mayo Clinic encourages women not to delay screening for breast cancer. Patients are also encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is possible, even if they're scheduled to have a mammogram. Patients should advise their mammography technician if they have received the vaccine and in which arm. Can those who have had COVID-19 get vaccinated for COVID-19? Yes. Mayo Clinic recommends vaccination for COVID-19 even for those who have had COVID-19 previously. However, those who had COVID-19 should delay vaccination until about 90 days from diagnosis. People should not get vaccinated if they are in quarantine after exposure or if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Will the COVID-19 vaccine be free? Yes, 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 insurance at 100% and that patients and staff will not be billed for any unpaid charges. Patients and staff will need to bring their insurance cards to their vaccination appointments. I have read the information on Mayo Clinic’s website but still have questions. Who can I call? Please feel free to contact our Mayo Clinic Florida Nurse COVID Line at 904-956-8775 (open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time). We are experiencing high call volumes, so please expect longer than usual wait times. Thank you for your patience.