NEENAH, Wis. – ThedaCare is committed to providing the most current and accurate COVID-19 vaccine information regarding eligibility, available doses, scheduling access and answers to frequently asked questions.
Vaccine Availability at ThedaCare – April 14-27
From April 14-27, 2021, ThedaCare is expecting to receive 2,478 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which will include doses of Moderna and Pfizer. Specifically, 1,450 doses of Moderna is allotted for April 14-20, along with 800 doses of Moderna and 228 doses of Pfizer for April 21-27. A majority of vaccine appointments are scheduled 7-10 days in advance. At this time, limited appointments are still available. Walk-in vaccinations are not available at this time.
ThedaCare targets to administer 10,000 vaccines per week, and continues to build a process that aligns with the doses received from the state.
ThedaCare has administered 51,034 vaccines from December 24, 2020 through April 11, 2021.
Pause of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
The health and safety of patients, team members and the community, is our number one priority.
On April 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced their recommendation of pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has also instructed vaccinators to stop administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The agencies are currently reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to the organizations, in the reported cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The instances appear to be extremely rare.
Agencies report the recommended pause is to ensure health care providers are aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and care.
“We understand community members who have recently received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may have concerns,” said Dr. Mark Cockley, ThedaCare Chief Clinical Officer. “People who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should immediately contact their health care provider.”
Out of an abundance of caution, ThedaCare will pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Our teams are working with those community members who were scheduled to receive a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and are prioritizing to reschedule their vaccination appointment where they would receive the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), all individuals ages 16 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. Currently, Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for people age 16 and older. Moderna is authorized for people age 18 and older.
ThedaCare will continue vaccinating eligible populations, following WI DHS eligibility guidelines. For more information about currently eligible and next eligible groups, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
Access to Direct Scheduling
For the convenience of community members who are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, ThedaCare updated vaccine scheduling to a direct scheduling process.
No vaccine order is required for the direct scheduling process. Patients will have the opportunity to select a vaccine manufacturer, if there is a preference, along with the available appointment time and location that best suits them. ThedaCare only recommends vaccines that are deemed to be safe, and encourages community members to get vaccinated when they are eligible.
To ensure coordination and continue our long history of delivering vaccines safely and effectively, ThedaCare will have four vaccine clinics open across our service area for the next several weeks. As vaccine availability across the country and state increases in the coming weeks, ThedaCare plans to open additional clinics.
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 will I be notified when I am eligible?
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 have created a MyThedaCare account, those who meet criteria will receive specific details on how and when to schedule vaccine appointments. You must 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.
How long will it take for me to get an appointment once I’m eligible?
Health systems across Wisconsin are working through the logistics to provide vaccines. The amount of vaccine health systems receive from the federal and state government will determine how quickly we can vaccinate eligible groups.
For example, while our state receives around 70,000 first-dose vaccines per week, there are approximately 700,000 Wisconsinites who are 65 and older, including roughly 120,000 in our region. It’s important to remember that this is going to take time. We are awaiting our supply from the state and appreciate the community’s patience as we work through coordinating vaccines for the 1B group. Our goal is to ensure a smooth, easy process for all who choose to receive their vaccine.
Do I need to have MyThedaCare to receive my vaccine?
To schedule your appointment, you must be eligible. 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.
MyThedaCare account users will receive a notification based on their account preferences, as an email and/or an alert from the MyChart app (on mobile devices).
After receiving this notification, you will be able to sign into your MyThedaCare account and select a time and location to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
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.
