Anticipating the Arrival of COVID-19 Vaccinations

In anticipation of the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine after the beginning of the year, Citizens Medical Center is prepared to administer vaccinations as long as supplies are available.

The COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for safe, effective use, and medical experts agree that you should get vaccinated as soon as it’s available to you.

COVID-19 VACCINE FACTS:

• Distribution will occur in phases, with those at highest risk in the earliest phases, beginning with frontline healthcare workers & caregivers.
• Limited amounts of the vaccine will be available during early shipments to hospitals.
• The vaccine must be kept at a specific frozen temperature, and has a very short shelf life once thawed and reconstituted.
• The vaccine is free to all who qualify to receive it. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions.

PROTOCOL FOR RECEIVING THE VACCINATION AT CITIZENS MEDICAL CENTER:

• To meet our community needs, and to avoid waste, each individual who wishes to be vaccinated as early as possible needs to call 649-5300 on a Monday through Friday between 8 AM & 5 PM except holidays to be placed on the waiting list.
• You will need to provide full name, physical address, age, and daytime phone number where you may best be reached.
• Once the vaccine becomes available, we will contact those who have signed up & are qualified, and schedule an appointment.
• Our plan is to o er a drive-through vaccination station located in front of the hospital.
• We will schedule your second dose for 21 days later.

Vaccines help your body build up the ability to fight off a virus and 
create antibodies. A vaccine may not prevent you from getting the COVID-19 virus, but may keep you from becoming seriously ill, or it may keep you from developing complications, and thereby can be a lifesaver. You may experience some common mild side effects within the rest few days of receiving the vaccination. The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 since the vaccines developed in the USA don’t use the live virus that causes COVID-19. 
Meanwhile, continue to avoid close contact, wear a mask properly outside of your home, wash your hands frequently, stay home if you’re sick, and follow state and local recommendations until the spread has stopped!