CentraCare Notifying Patients of Booster Eligibility Through MyChart

With the recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surrounding the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 booster dose, CentraCare is working to provide a booster dose to those who qualify.

The Minnesota Department of Health and CDC recommend that the following SHOULD receive a booster dose at least six months after the second dose:

• Age 65 or older
• Age 50-64 with qualifying medical conditions defined by the (CDC)

MDH and CDC recommend that the following MAY receive a booster dose at least six months after the second dose:

• Age 18-49 with qualifying medical conditions and person believes the benefit of the booster dose outweighs the risk for their personal medical and risk profile.
• Age 18-64 who are at higher risk of transmission and exposure due to their living or occupational setting

Patients who are eligible will be notified via MyChart and will have the ability to schedule through MyChart or by calling CentraCare Connect at 320-200-3200. If you do not have MyChart account, please sign up. CentraCare is working to administer the booster dose to those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and those who completed their vaccine series more than six months ago.

CentraCare's priority continues to be vaccinating those who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, nearly all the cases of severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 continue to occur among those not yet vaccinated. Hospitalization rates are 10 to 22 times higher among the unvaccinated compared to vaccinated adults.

Guidance on booster doses for those who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines is expected in the coming weeks, according to the CDC.

For healthy, fully vaccinated patients looking for a booster shot, we are also awaiting further guidance before scheduling appointments.