NEENAH, Wis. – ThedaCare is committed to providing the most current and accurate COVID-19 vaccine information regarding eligibility, available doses and scheduling access.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved expanded usage of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15-year-olds, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine for emergency use authorization.
“Our goal is to ensure coordination and continue our long history of delivering vaccines safely and effectively,” said Dr. Mark Cockley, ThedaCare Chief Clinical Officer. “We are encouraged by this milestone. Allowing children in the 12-15-year-old age group to be vaccinated will help us continue our fight against the virus.”
ThedaCare only recommends vaccines that are deemed to be safe, and encourages community members to get vaccinated when they are eligible.
Although most children who contract COVID-19 have mild symptoms, they can infect adults in their families, as well as outside the home. Dr. Cockley also noted that although infrequent, some children do get very sick from COVID-19, and prevention of serious illness in children is an important goal of vaccination.
“We encourage children in the 12-15-year-old age group who can safely receive the vaccine, do so,” said Dr. Cockley. “Children have been among those most impacted by the pandemic – from virtual learning and masking, to being isolated and away from friends – they have found ways to adapt. If more people are vaccinated, it will help us all return to a sense of normalcy, and allow our children to get back to those activities many of them have missed over the past year.”
According to the CDC, Pfizer has reported that children experience similar side effects as adults do after receiving the vaccine. The most common are pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. The side effects generally subside in 24 hours.
“The expanded vaccine eligibility is certainly an exciting moment, and it is important to get vaccinated if you are able to do so,” said Dr. Cockley. “When it comes to considering whether to get your child vaccinated, parents should have a conversation with their child’s health care provider and do their own research from trusted sources, including the CDC.”
Vaccine Appointments Available
At this time, community members can schedule vaccination appointments for 12-15-year-olds.
Currently, Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for people age 12 and older. ThedaCare will have five vaccine clinics open across our service area for the next several weeks. Locations with available appointments include Appleton, Berlin, Neenah, Shawano and Waupaca.
ThedaCare will manage COVID-19 vaccine scheduling for people primarily through MyThedaCare/My Chart. This process ensures a single channel of coordination of the vaccine and that the vaccine becomes part of patients’ electronic medical records. Once individuals are eligible, they can make an appointment to be vaccinated.
If you or your children are not current ThedaCare patients or do not have MyThedaCare, you can set up a free account at MyThedaCare.org. MyThedaCare is also accessible on mobile devices through the MyChart app (available on both iOS and Android).
Create a MyThedaCare Account:
- Visit MyThedaCare.org
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Follow the prompts
- Visit MyThedaCare today to ensure your account information is up to date*. Then monitor your email and app alerts in the coming weeks for your notification.
Parents will need to create an account for themselves and then one for their child, if they do not already have one. If you are creating a new account for a minor child, a proxy request will need to be completed. If you need help locating the information or are having trouble accessing your MyThedaCare account, please call the MyThedaCare technical help desk at 877.259.6180.
If you cannot access MyThedaCare, you can call your primary care provider’s office or 920.830.6877.
All 12-15-year-old children who are being vaccinated will need to have a parent/guardian with them at the vaccination appointment for consent. Written consent will not be accepted.
Vaccine updates will be available on the ThedaCare Facebook page and COVID-19 webpage. We encourage you to check those resources regularly and share them with friends and family.
For more information about COVID-19, vaccines, testing, online care options, an online symptom checker, community resources, prevention guidelines and other important news and updates, please visit thedacare.org/covid19.
Learn More About COVID-19 – Frequently Asked Questions
When can I get my vaccine?
In keeping with state and national guidelines, ThedaCare began vaccinating health care workers in December. As the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) determines who is eligible to receive the vaccine. The Wisconsin DHS website provides full details on who is currently eligible and next eligible groups. For more information on currently eligible and next eligible groups, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
How do I schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at ThedaCare?
ThedaCare will manage COVID-19 vaccine scheduling for people primarily through MyThedaCare/My Chart. This process ensures a single channel of coordination of the vaccine and that the vaccine becomes part of patients’ electronic medical records. Once individuals are eligible, they can make an appointment to be vaccinated.
If you’re not a current ThedaCare patient or do not have MyThedaCare, you can set up a free account at MyThedaCare.org. MyThedaCare is also accessible on mobile devices through the MyChart app (available on both iOS and Android).
Create a MyThedaCare Account:
- Visit MyThedaCare.org
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Follow the prompts
- Visit MyThedaCare today to ensure your account information is up to date*. Then monitor your email and app alerts in the coming weeks for your notification.
During the scheduling process, community members will see available appointment locations and times based on which vaccine manufacturer(s) selected, if there is a preference.
If you can’t find the information you need or are having trouble accessing your MyThedaCare account, please call the MyThedaCare technical help desk at 877.259.6180.
Do I need to have MyThedaCare to receive my vaccine?
If you have not created a free MyThedaCare account, please click here. If you already have an account, please log in to ensure your contact information, including email, phone number and address, is up to date.
To begin the direct scheduling process, community members should log into their MyThedaCare account and click on the Schedule Now icon within the COVID-19 Vaccine message. Available appointments will show, based on which vaccine(s) are selected, and patients can select their preferred appointment time and location. Please check back if available appointments are unavailable or do not work for your schedule. ThedaCare is building vaccine schedules based on doses received each week from the state and federal government. New appointment opportunities are added as additional doses become available.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
ThedaCare only recommends vaccines that are deemed to be safe. We have closely examined the FDA process for overseeing the many different vaccine trials, including clinical trials, as well as the work of the CDC’s ACIP group. It is required that the FDA makes decisions that are guided by science and data regarding authorization or approval of COVID-19 vaccines. We are confident in the FDA’s authorization process and the CDC’s ACIP group review.
What are the common side effects of the vaccine?
Symptoms of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and considered to be a normal reaction to vaccination. The following common side effects typically occur within the first 3 days and subside in a 1-2 day time frame:
- Fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Soreness and redness at the site of injection
- Learn what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine
If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
ThedaCare is following the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) recommendation that even those individuals who have had COVID-19 should receive the vaccination. People should wait until they are no longer infectious to get vaccinated.
What are the guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals?
The CDC released guidelines for those who have been full vaccinated for COVID-19. The CDC defines people who are fully vaccinated as those who are two weeks past their second dose of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, or two weeks past a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The new CDC guidance says fully vaccinated people can:
- Visit other vaccinated people indoors without masks or physical distancing.
- Visit indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without masks or physical distancing, if the unvaccinated people are at low risk for severe disease.
- If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
The guidelines say fully vaccinated people should:
- Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others
- Avoid medium or large-sized gatherings
- Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
- Wash your hands often
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health of the communities it serves in northeast and central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 600,000 residents in 17 counties and employs approximately 7,000 health care professionals. ThedaCare has 180 points of care, including seven hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their best lives through easy access to individualized care, supporting each person’s own health and wellbeing. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand unique needs, finding solutions together, and encouraging health awareness and action. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care.
For more information, visit thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on social media. Members of the media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public and Media Relations Consultant at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
