COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Please note: COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available at this time.
We are now offering third doses of the of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to immunocompromised patients who previously received these vaccines. If you already received the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, no further action is needed at this time. Qualified patients can schedule their third dose vaccine appointments via MyChart or you can walk in to one of our retail pharmacies to receive the vaccine – no appointment needed. If you are an existing patient who is immunocompromised, you will also receive an invitation to schedule your vaccine appointment via MyChart message or mail.
We are not yet providing third shots of COVID-19 vaccine to patients who are not immunocompromised. Please check back in the coming days for more information on when these may become available.
M Health Fairview is currently giving COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals ages 12 and older. To make an appointment for individuals ages 12-17, please call 612-336-2690. For more information on what to expect at your vaccine appointment, please read the FAQs below.
COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form
All patients will need to provide a completed consent form to receive their vaccine. If you are 12-17 years old, you will need to provide a consent form (links below) that is signed by your parent or guardian at your appointment. If a parent will come with you to your appointment, you can complete the form at that time. If you are age 18 or older, you can do this at your appointment or fill it out ahead of time and bring it to your appointment. Find the consent form below, or it is also available in the following languages: Arabic, Amharic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts
The COVID-19 pandemic is exposing persistent health inequities for communities of color and Indigenous communities and is exacerbating Minnesota’s racial disparities. Learn more about our efforts to make vaccinations accessible, affordable, and available within a trusted space with appropriate language and cultural considerations.
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs
M Health Fairview is currently giving COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals ages 12 and older. All three vaccines are available within the M Health Fairview system. Individuals that are 12 to 17 years of age must receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Some COVID-19 vaccines require two doses. Please choose a first appointment that allows you to return exactly 21 days (Pfizer/BioNTech) or 28 days (Moderna) later at the same location (depending on the vaccine). Your second vaccine appointment will be scheduled when you receive your first dose, if a second dose is needed.
*Please note: Individuals that are 12 to 17 years of age must receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
There are 3 options to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Any Retail Pharmacy: You do not need an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at our retail pharmacies. Simply walk-in to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine at any M Health Fairview retail pharmacy.
*Please note: Supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is currently very limited.
- Four HUB Sites: To schedule an appointment at a hub site listed below, please log onto your MyChart or call 612-336-2690, option 1. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are offered to patients age 12 and older at the following hub sites:
- M Health Fairview Clinic - Midway
- M Health Fairview Clinic - Brooklyn Park
- M Health Fairview Clinic - Oxboro
- M Health Fairview Clinic - Woodwinds
- Any Primary Care Location: Primary Care clinics have the COVID-19 vaccine available for patient’s during scheduled appointments. Please ask your provider about the options during your visit.
While we have made some progress in the fight against COVID-19 with public health measures like masking and social distancing, widespread vaccination is the only way that we can stop the pandemic. Not only does getting the vaccine protect you against severe illness from COVID-19, it also reduces the chances that you will spread it to others, including your family and friends.
Yes. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 produce antibodies that offer some protection against the virus, but the COVID-19 vaccine offers more protection than natural immunity. Natural immunity alone is less than half as effective as natural immunity plus vaccination. Research has found that natural immunity also fades faster than vaccine immunity.
Desktop Instructions:
- Log into your M Health Fairview MyChart account at https://mychart.fairview.org
- Select the Menu option in the top left corner of the page
- Scroll down to My Record and select COVID-19. You can also search for it in the search bar.
- The COVID-19 homepage will display all COVID-19 tests and vaccines completed. Click the blue Download vaccination record to get a printable PDF for proof of vaccination.
- Access the PDF by clicking the Document tab that appears in the bottom left corner of your screen.
Mobile Instructions:
- Open the MyChart app on your mobile device.
- If this is the first time using the app, select Add Organization and search for “MHealth.” Select the M Health Fairview and M Physicians logo.
- Log in to the MyChart app.
- Click the Menu button on the home page.
- Scroll down to My Record and select COVID-19. You can also search for it in the search bar.
- The COVID-19 homepage will display all COVID-19 tests and vaccines completed. Click the green Download/Export button to get a shareable PDF for proof of vaccination.
M Health Fairview is following guidelines on lost vaccine cards from the Minnesota Department of Health. Lost Your Vaccine Card? (state.mn.us)
If you received your first or second dose at any M Health Fairview location, we would issue you a new vaccine card when you receive your second or additional dose.
If you misplace your vaccine card and have been fully vaccinated by M Health Fairview, quickly access your COVID-19 vaccine records through your M Health Fairview MyChart account. Login here.
In addition, you can obtain a copy of your vaccination record from the Minnesota Department of Heath at Find My Immunization Record www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/miic/records.html.
If you are presenting for your second dose after receiving your first dose outside of the M Health Fairview system, you must present with your original vaccine card. Please contact the company where you received your first dose to obtain another vaccine card.
Yes, M Health Fairview will provide the second dose of the same vaccine if the patient has their vaccine card from their first dose.
We are now offering third doses of the of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to immunocompromised patients who previously received these vaccines. If you already received the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, no further action is needed at this time. Qualified patients can schedule their third dose vaccine appointments via MyChart or you can walk in to one of our retail pharmacies to receive the vaccine – no appointment needed. If you are an existing patient who is immunocompromised, you will also receive an invitation to schedule your vaccine appointment via MyChart message or mail.
We are not yet providing third shots of COVID-19 vaccine to patients who are not immunocompromised. Please check back in the coming days for more information on when these may become available.
Please discuss your COVID-19 vaccine options and concerns with your provider. - If you are pregnant, lactating (nursing) or have a weakened immune system, review special details about the vaccine on the COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding (cdc.gov)
Review the Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization, Moderna Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization, or Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Emergency Use Authorization for more details about the vaccines.
On the day of your COVID-19 vaccine, wear a short-sleeved shirt for ease of receiving the vaccine in the upper arm and a mask covering your nose and mouth. Only those getting a vaccine should come to the appointment. However, patients under the age of 18, can have a parent or guardian present.
All patients will need to provide a completed consent form to receive their vaccine. If you are 12-17 years old, you will need to provide a consent form (links below) that is signed by your parent or guardian at your appointment. If a parent accompanies you to your appointment, you can complete the form at that time. If you are age 18 or older, you can do this at your appointment or fill it out ahead of time and bring it to your appointment. Find the consent form here, or it is also available in the following languages: Arabic, Amharic, Chinese, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
You need two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires a single dose. You must get the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine 21 days after the first dose, and the second dose of the Moderna vaccine 28 days after the first. Please make sure you are available for your second dose when scheduling your first dose. If you are receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, you will be scheduled for the second dose during your first vaccination appointment.
You will be greeted by a healthcare professional who is an experienced vaccinator. They will ask you some basic questions regarding your health, and have you complete a consent form.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be injected into your upper arm, so plan to wear a short-sleeved shirt. The vaccinator will fill out a vaccine card for you to take with you; please bring that same card back for your second dose if you are receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. If you are receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, you will be scheduled for the second dose during your first vaccination appointment.
After receiving the vaccination, you will be asked to wait nearby for a 15-minute observation period to monitor you for immediate adverse reactions.
If you have a history of allergic reactions to a vaccine, you will be asked to wait nearby for a 30-minute observation period. Our vaccinators are prepared to respond to adverse reactions during the observation time. They will have access to EpiPens and guidance on how to care for individuals experiencing reactions.
The COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech,Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) are all safe and highly effective at preventing severe cases of COVID-19, hospitalization, and death due to the disease. Please refer to Ensuring COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in the US | CDC for more information about vaccine safety and monitoring.
The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines do not use live or weakened versions of the coronavirus causing COVID-19. Instead, these vaccines have genetic material called mRNA or “messenger RNA” that is taken from the virus. Both vaccines come in two doses. People receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will need a second dose 21 days after the first, while those who get the Moderna vaccine will need a booster 28 days later.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine comes in a single dose and uses a “vector vaccine” method. Vector vaccines use another weakened virus – in this case, it’s an adenovirus called Ad26 – to deliver genetic material that tricks your body into making a protein which stimulates your body’s immune response.
Common side effects include redness, pain or swelling at the injection site, headaches, fatigue, chills, fever, and muscle soreness. Side effects are more likely to occur after the second dose. Most of these symptoms ended three days after the vaccine, or earlier. Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine | CDC
The Pfizer/BioNTECH and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are not fully effective unless you receive both doses. The first dose of the vaccine triggers your immune system response and the second dose completes the process so that you have the best-possible protection. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine only requires a single dose for full effectiveness.
Please present to one of our retail pharmacies to receive your second dose if you missed your previously scheduled second dose.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that individuals in high transmission areas wear masks in indoor spaces. Currently, most of Minnesota including the entire metro area has substantial or high levels of community transmission. Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science | CDC
Like other vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines are not 100 percent effective, and there is a small chance someone who is fully vaccinated may still get a breakthrough case of COVID-19. Some studies suggest the chance of getting a breakthrough infection is 0.05%. In Minnesota as of Sept. 20, only 23,330 breakthrough cases have been reported among the roughly 3.1 million people fully vaccinated, a rate of .749%.
However, the chances for a severe infection, hospitalization, or death are much lower for vaccinated people. If a vaccinated person gets COVID-19, the symptoms are likely to be less severe than in an unvaccinated person. Current studies show that vaccinated people are five times less likely to get infected and 10 times less likely to experience hospitalization or death, according to the CDC.
People who get breakthrough infections can spread COVID-19 to others. People who are already immunocompromised because of another illness are at higher risk for a breakthrough case, even if fully vaccinated. The CDC recommends that they take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people until told otherwise by their doctor or healthcare professional.
Breakthrough infections are rare. If you think you may have COVID-19 after getting vaccinated, we recommend that you get diagnostic testing. If positive test results confirm that you have a breakthrough case, you should isolate at home from others for at least 10 days after the first day of symptoms or the first positive test to minimize the chance of spreading the disease, while continuing to monitor your symptoms. People who are immunocompromised or experience a severe case should isolate at home for 20 days after the first symptoms appear or after the first positive test.
If you are concerned that your COVID-19 symptoms are worsening, please contact your medical provider. Learn more about symptoms and when to seek help.