Over the past 20 months, Mayo Clinic Health System Fairmont, United Hospital District and Community Health & Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties have been working collaboratively to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, their focus has been on responding to the surge in cases, as well as planning for both booster vaccinations and vaccinations in children ages 5-11.

Recently, it was announced that booster doses are now available for all three vaccine types. For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

• 65 years and older

• Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings

• Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions

• Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

All three organizations have vaccine available and are ready to take appointments.

• Mayo Clinic Health System is offering vaccination appointments. Please call 507-238-8500 to schedule an appointment. Patients may also choose to schedule an appointment via Patient Online Services, Mayo Clinic App.

• United Hospital District is planning to offer Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccinations for the 5-11-year-old age group. A parent or legal guardian must be present with the child at the time of vaccination. Please call 507-526-7388 after November 5th to schedule an appointment with UHD clinic.

• Community Health & Human Services will offer community vaccination clinics on the following dates:

• Nov. 3 in Blue Earth (Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer for 12+)

• Nov. 5 in Fairmont (Moderna and Pfizer for 12+)

• Nov. 10 in Fairmont (Moderna)

• Nov. 12 in Blue Earth (Moderna, Pfizer for 12+ and Johnson & Johnson)

• Nov. 13 in Fairmont (Pfizer for ages 5-11, 12+)

• Nov. 17 in Fairmont (Moderna, Pfizer 12+)

• Nov. 16 in Blue Earth (Moderna, Pfizer 12+)

• Nov. 18 in Blue Earth (Pfizer for ages 5-11)

• Nov. 22 in Fairmont (Pfizer for ages 5-11)

• Nov. 23 in Fairmont (Pfizer for ages 5-11)

Community Health & Human Services will also be offering rapid testing appointments on the following dates and locations:

• Nov. 5 – Fairmont

• Nov. 8 – Blue Earth & Fairmont

• Nov. 10 – Blue Earth & Fairmont

• Nov. 15 – Blue Earth & Fairmont

• Nov. 17 – Blue Earth & Fairmont

• Nov. 19 – Blue Earth & Fairmont

• Nov. 22 – Blue Earth & Fairmont

• Nov. 23 – Fairmont

Information on scheduling appointments for vaccinations or testing on any of the dates listed above can be found on their website: www.fmchs.com or by calling 507-238-4757.

Parents or guardians should not schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment if their child is in isolation due to a COVID-19 infection. They can be vaccinated when they are no longer in isolation. They also should not schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment if children are in quarantine from a recent COVID-19 exposure. They can be vaccinated when they are no longer in quarantine.

On Nov. 2, the CDC provided emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11. This was the last step in a lengthy approval process which required clinical trial data review by the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

All vaccines must undergo intensive safety monitoring. The Food and Drug Administration has carefully reviewed all authorized and recommended vaccines. The FDA is responsible for reviewing all safety data from clinical trials to determine if the expected benefits of vaccination outweigh potential risks. This means that all possible measures have been taken to make sure no harm will come to those who get vaccinated. Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world have been vaccinated, including vaccinations for COVID-19.

The delay in vaccinating younger children for COVID-19 provided time for scientists and doctors to study the vaccine in these kids.