COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Due to a COVID-19 vaccine supply shortage, M Health Fairview is currently only giving vaccines to frontline healthcare workers and other groups identified in phase 1A of Minnesota’s vaccination plan. Please note: If you are a healthcare worker and able to do your job remotely, you do not meet the criteria to receive the vaccine at this time. Once supplies increase, we hope to begin giving vaccines to more people, including adults age 65 and older and those at higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19. When those plans are announced, we will share details here. Learn more.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution is led by the State of Minnesota. We are currently in phase 1A of the state’s plan, which prioritizes healthcare workers at highest risk for COVID-19 exposure and residents of long-term care facilities. We hope to make the vaccine available to some patients at high risk for COVID-19 infection or complications in early 2021 when more supplies are available. Once we know more, we will share details here. Learn more.

Two COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are both safe and more than 94 percent effective, according to the results of two large clinical trials. Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have already received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization, allowing them to be used in the United States. Learn more.

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. Once you receive both doses of the vaccine, it will likely take several weeks for your body to develop immunity. Learn more.

During the clinical trials, only mild to moderate flu-like side effects were reported, including a headache, fatigue, chills, fever, and muscle and joint soreness. Side effects are more likely to occur after the second dose. Most of these symptoms ended three days after the vaccine, or earlier. Learn more.

No, it is not possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use only genetic material from the virus while other vaccines being studied use inactivated versions of the virus. None of these can cause COVID-19. Learn more.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not effective unless you receive both doses. The first dose of the vaccine helps prepare your immune system and the second dose provides most of the immunity. Learn more.

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 COVID-19, it also reduces the chances that you will spread it to others, including your family and friends. Learn more.

Yes. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 produce antibodies that offer some protection against the virus, but we don’t know enough yet about antibody protection and how long it may last, so we recommend that everyone get the vaccine.  Learn more.

Yes. Everyone should wear face masks, wash their hands frequently, practice social distancing, and take other safety steps until more people have received the vaccine, the number of COVID-19 cases nationwide is no longer at pandemic levels, and we understand more about how long these vaccines will protect us. Learn more.