COVID-19 newsletter - January 27, 2022

Have you received your vaccine or booster?

Studies show that after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus and the ability to prevent infection may decrease over time. The recent emergence of the omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts to protect against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines and booster are safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 illness and related hospitalizations and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for everyone five and older and boosters for everyone 12 and older. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.

Pfizer boosters are available for everyone 12 and older five months after completing the primary series. Only people 18 and older may receive the Moderna (five months after vaccination series) or Johnson & Johnson (two months after vaccination) booster.

It’s okay if you’ve changed your mind and want to get a COVID-19 shot now
If you were previously vocal about your hesitation to get the COVID-19 vaccine but feel differently now, that is okay. Relying on new data and information about the virus and vaccines is a valid reason to get vaccinated. Changing your mind is okay as public health officials and scientists also continue to learn about how this virus spreads and how best to control it. 

How to replace your vaccine card if it is lost or has wear and tear
Many people received a COVID-19 vaccine card when they received their vaccination. Some did not get a card and others have lost, misplaced, or forgotten to enter the information needed. Individuals who need complete and official proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations the following options:

• If you received your vaccine at a provider or pharmacy, contact the provider directly or use your patient portal and ask for a copy of your vaccine record to be emailed, mailed to you, or available for pick up from your provider.
• If you received your vaccine at any provider in Minnesota, use request a copy of your vaccine record from the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC). This may take 28 business days to process.
• The Minnesota Department of Health has also released the Docket, a free app available for download in Apple and Android app stores, which allows you to securely view and share your immunization records.
  • If you need to update your phone number and address to access your immunization records, go to Find My Immunization Record.

Masking is still important

Masks offer protection against all variants, including omicron. The CDC and MDH continue to recommend that everyone two years or older wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.

• Masking is a critical public health tool for preventing the spread of COVID-19, and it is essential to remember that any mask is better than no mask.
• To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, the CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.
  • Check for gaps by cupping your hands around the outside edges of the mask.
  • Make sure no air is flowing from the area near your eyes or the sides of the mask.
  • If the mask has a good fit, you will feel warm air coming through the front of the mask and may be able to see the mask material move in and out with each breath.
• Masks and respirators effectively reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, when worn consistently and correctly.
• While all masks and respirators provide some defense, properly fitted respirators offer the highest level of protection. Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for higher-risk situations or by some people at increased risk for severe disease.
• View the CDC’s mask recommendations for more information. 

Rochester nonprofits are looking for mask donations. If you have masks to donate, reach out to the Rochester Nonprofit Consortium.

USPS at-home antigen tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to receive four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.

The tests available for order:

• Are rapid antigen at-home tests.
• Can be taken anywhere.
• Give results within 30 minutes.
• Work whether or not you have COVID-⁠19 symptoms.
• Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-⁠19 vaccines.
• Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests.

Wastewater monitoring of COVID-19

Wastewater from communities is collected by wastewater systems and transported to wastewater treatment plants. Participating utilities collect samples of untreated wastewater or primary sludge. These samples are sent to environmental laboratories for COVID-19 testing. The testing data is submitted to participating health agencies. Health agencies submit these data to the CDC. The CDC analyzes the data in real time and reports results to health departments for use in their COVID-19 response.

City of Rochester wastewater monitoring

The human body sheds remnants of a COVID-19 infection before it begins to show symptoms. When someone has COVID-19, their body is shedding coronavirus RNA. This molecule, which acts like a fingerprint, can be found in the body’s waste. Because this molecule is detectable in human waste 3-8 days before someone can get tested, scientists can monitor wastewater to help forecast future COVID-19 cases and identify locations where the virus may be spreading. As seen in the graph below, the presence of coronavirus RNA in wastewater closely parallels the cases of COVID-19 reported by testing clinics.

Since September 2020, the City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) have used wastewater to monitor the presence of COVID-19 in the community. This innovative and collaborative initiative between community partners has created another tool to help leaders gauge the prevalence of COVID-19 within the Rochester community. This tool is unique in that it is actually a predictor of cases to come.  Additionally, it has become even more useful as home testing has become more common, making tracking cases even more difficult. Testing will continue through at least 2023 to monitor COVID-19 within the community.

Each partner has a key role in this joint project. The City of Rochester collects the wastewater samples and prepares them using a separator. The samples are then sent to Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic extracts RNA from wastewater in order to detect how much COVID-19 is present. UMR provides a lab technician to assist the lab work at Mayo Clinic. Olmsted County provides oversight and financial support. The data is shared with all parties and is reviewed for accuracy and compared with positive case numbers to determine trends. 

The nature of the collection process (creating a composite sample by collecting a small amount of wastewater approximately every 6 minutes over a 24-hour period) allows the entire population of Rochester to be reflected in just one sample. This past summer, the Cities of Byron and Stewartville also began providing wastewater samples for a more holistic regional perspective. The data from this monitoring process is a useful predictive tool to aid in public health decision-making, especially now that home testing kits are readily available and fewer people are utilizing test clinics that report positive cases to local Public Health.

Updates from OCPHS, Mayo Clinic, and OMC

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS)
Olmsted County continues to remain in a high level of community transmission. The county currently has 6,647 active COVID-19 cases. Due to a backlog of tests, this number is subject to change. Check out the Olmsted County COVID webpage for continued updates.

COVID 12+ Pfizer booster clinic at OCPHS
Olmsted County Public Health Services will be holding a clinic for individuals to receive their COVID Pfizer booster on Thursday, January 27, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Only Pfizer boosters will be administered at this clinic, and you must register in advance. 

• Date: January 27, 2022 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Registration link: https://webapp.co.olmsted.mn.us/VaccineClinicRegistrations
• Passcode for registration: Drifts2
• Vaccination location: 2100 Campus Dr. SE, Rochester, MN (Olmsted County Public Health building)

COVID 12+ Pfizer booster clinic in Byron
Olmsted County Public Health Services will be holding a clinic for individuals to receive their COVID Pfizer booster on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Only Pfizer boosters will be administered at this clinic, and you must register in advance.

• Date: February 1, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Registration link: https://webapp.co.olmsted.mn.us/VaccineClinicRegistrations
• Passcode for registration: Bears3
• Vaccination location: Byron Middle School, 601 4th St NW, Byron, MN 55920

Mayo Clinic
Patients ages five and older are eligible to be vaccinated and patients 12 and older are eligible to receive the booster five months out from their second vaccination. 

Individuals or parents and guardians can self-schedule a vaccination appointment now:

• Use your Patient Online Services account to schedule an appointment online or through the Mayo Clinic app.
• Call the Rochester campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or weekends from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: 507-538-4040.
• If you don’t have a Patient online Services account, call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398.

If you are eligible to receive a booster dose COVID-19 vaccine, check COVID-19 vaccine options by Mayo Clinic campus.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters visit the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 vaccine information site.

Mayo Clinic expands testing hours
COVID-19 testing is performed at the 41st Street Testing Center, located at 3033 41st Street NW in Rochester. The testing site's hours are now 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily.

Scheduled appointments are required for testing. Call the COVID-19 Nurse Line at 507-293-9525 or contact your primary care provider for screening. 

Mayo Clinic has updated its masking guidance.

Olmsted Medical Center (OMC)
OMC is scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments for children ages 5-11. In addition, OMC is offering pediatric vaccination clinics every Saturday beginning January 15, 2022. To schedule an appointment, call 507-292-7300.

OMC is offering the Pfizer vaccine booster for patients 12+ who completed their primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). OMC also continues to offer appointments for first and second doses for the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments are available on Thursdays.
OMC has updated its masking guidance. Employees, vendors, patients, and visitors are being asked to wear a surgical mask when in OMC buildings. If needed, patients and visitors will be provided a surgical mask to wear when going through the screening process. Patients who have their own surgical mask are invited to wear them when visiting an OMC building. 

Now available in OMC MyChart: online scheduling for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
OMC patients are now able to schedule an appointment for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through the patient portal, OMC MyChart. Appointments can be scheduled for a first dose, second dose, or booster. 

When you arrive at the vaccination location, you will be asked a series of questions to be sure you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring your vaccine card with you to the vaccination appointment. 

Need to schedule a COVID-19 booster? We invite you to visit the OMC website to see if you qualify. The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) has created a chart that helps explains the qualifications for a COVID-19 booster. 

Please note: If you are sick, in isolation/quarantine, or you have had monoclonal antibody therapy in the last 90 days, you should not schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at this time.