Dear Manet Patients,
As your Primary Care Provider, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to stay healthy!
Massachusetts is presently in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and Manet has received the COVID-19 Vaccine and is following the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Vaccination Protocol (see graphic below).
Please know that our team is working ardently to make sure we can quickly vaccinate our patients who are indicated to be vaccinated at Phase 2, while also beginning to prepare for Phase 3 (when the vaccine becomes available to the general public).
Following are some frequently asked questions and answers that may help you better understand the vaccine and the distribution process.
Who can get the vaccine?
- Not everyone will be able to get the vaccine at once, yet everyone will be able to get the COVID-19 Vaccine.
- The availability of the vaccine is being coordinated by the state of Massachusetts through the Department of Public Health and all will be eligible, yet the timing varies by occupation, health status and age.
- Right now, as noted above, the vaccine is only available to health care workers, students in clinical training programs or affiliated academic institutions, emergency workers and patients and staff in nursing homes or other congregate care settings.
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
Yes, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective. The vaccines are about 95% effective in preventing COVID-19. While they help prevent COVID-19 generally, they are especially capable of preventing severe cases of the disease. The COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the same trials as other approved vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccines have met the high safety standards these trials set.
– It is important that you receive both doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine (in the upper arm) to be as best-protected from COVID-19 as possible.
– The COVID-19 Vaccine does not contain the virus that causes COVID-19.
When will I be able to get the vaccine?
– We are following the Massachusetts state guidance and will offer the vaccine to all of our patients when they are eligible.
– Within the state guidance, patients who have a high risk of getting severe illness from COVID-19 infection will get their vaccine first. With this in mind, Manet expects to offer vaccines to the first groups of highest risk patients (patients 75 years of age or older and patients with two or more significant chronic illnesses) starting in February.
– Members of the public without medical conditions at this time are scheduled to begin receiving the Vaccine after April.
When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? | Mass.gov.
Where will I be able to get the vaccine?
– Manet will offer the vaccinations to all of our eligible patients. Because of the packaging and handling of the COVID-19 Vaccine, the Vaccine will be provided to you at one of our COVID-19 Patient Vaccination clinics and not during a routine or urgent visit. This will require an extra and unanticipated visit(s) for you.
– To accommodate COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics, we will be offering our Patient Vaccine Clinics in the Community and at locations that are accessible and close to the locations where you already receive your Primary Care with us.
– Whereas this is a 2-dose vaccination process, (28 days apart) you will leave your first COVID-19 Vaccination Visit with an appointment for your second dose visit.
– During Phase 2 and Phase 3, the COVID-19 vaccine may also be available from local pharmacies, local public health clinics or state vaccination sites.
How will I know when I can get the vaccine?
– We will continue to communicate with you regularly. Manet will send you a message via multiple outreach methods, including the Manet Patient Portal, when we have details about the process of scheduling an appointment
– We ask for your patience and understanding as we will likely over-communicate with you to ensure you have received the information you need on this imperative COVID-19 Vaccination.
– You can also find updated information and the answers to frequently asked questions on our website so check back often—as our commitment to keeping you informed is one of our greatest priorities in this Pandemic.
– You can find more information about the COVID-19 Vaccine at mass.gov.
Our Primary Care Providers and the staff who support your care experience encourage you to stay informed and get vaccinated. Remember, while the vaccine is a major step in fighting COVID-19, it is more important than ever to continue to wear a mask, socially distance and wash your hands.
The COVID-19 2-dose Vaccine will keep you from becoming ill with COVID, yet the COVID-19 Vaccine does not necessarily prevent you from spreading the COVID-19 Virus, even when asymptomatic.
Please take note: COVID-19 is persistent! If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive, please consider being tested. Manet offers COVID-19 testing at our North Quincy and Hull practice locations, as well as at Community Sites in Quincy and Taunton. Click here for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Click here for more information about COVID vaccinations.
In closing, thank you for trusting us with your care—it is a privilege to serve you.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Sierra Lily Yung, MD
Chief Executive Officer Chief Medical Officer