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COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Vaccine Appointments

We are now offering vaccines at provider visits. Please call our clinics directly to inquire or schedule:

You may also check with Horizon Public Health for their vaccine opportunities by visiting their website at this link. You can search for vaccine locations near you at this website: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp

3rd Dose COVID Vaccines for Immunocompromised

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) and Prairie Ridge Healthcare (PRH) are available to help those who are eligible receive their third dose of the vaccine. It’s best to talk with your healthcare provider about your medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you. Please call your provider to have this discussion and if appropriate, to receive further instruction on how to schedule your vaccine.

Eligibility conditions for 3rd doses include:

  • Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies.
  • Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes).
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20 mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.

In some but not all cases, your provider may recommend temporarily holding or decreasing immunosuppressive medications around the time of vaccination.

Vaccine & Current COVID Status FAQ

I need a COVID test for myself or my child. Can I schedule a COVID test without seeing a provider?

  • For symptomatic patients:
    • Currently we are testing symptomatic patients through our drive-thru or with a provider visit. If you would like to schedule an appointment for the drive-thru please call our appointment line. If you would like to see a provider, please call the appt line or visit our Walk-In-Clinic.
    • There are a variety of other options available for testing:
    • For asymptomatic patients:
      • Please contact your provider for an order. If you don’t have a primary provider, the above options are also available.

What can you tell me about the Delta Variant?

  • Delta is more contagious than the other virus strains and unvaccinated people are most at risk. Your best protection is to get the COVID vaccine. We have vaccine clinics scheduled for 8/11 and 8/18, if you’re interested.
  • If you have more questions, public health is a great resource. You can reach Otter Tail County Public Health at 218-998-8320 or visit their website https://ottertailcountymn.us/content-page/covid-19-situation-update/

I want to get a vaccine. What are my options?

What can you tell me about 3rd doses recommended for the immunocompromised?

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) and Prairie Ridge Healthcare (PRH) are available to help those who are eligible receive their third dose of the vaccine. It’s best to talk with your healthcare provider about your medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for you. Please call your provider to have this discussion and if appropriate, to receive further instruction on how to schedule your vaccine.

Eligibility conditions for 3rd doses include:

  • Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies.
  • Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy).
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes).
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20 mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.

In some but not all cases, your provider may recommend temporarily holding or decreasing immunosuppressive medications around the time of vaccination. You can read more about this topic in this article.

How much does the vaccine cost?

The COVID-19 vaccine is being provided at no cost. We will ask for insurance information to submit an administration fee to your insurance company if applicable. If insurance does not cover this fee, it will not be passed on to you.

Can you answer my questions about if the vaccine is safe for me?

The American Hospital Association has a resource that answers many of the frequent concerns we hear about the vaccine. It can be found at https://www.aha.org/vaccine.

Several of our providers have offered some video comments regarding vaccine safety and efficacy as well. Those can be viewed on our website here.

Can I get a COVID vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

  • You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between vaccinations. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.
  • Learn more about the timing of other vaccines.

Eligibility

Anyone 12 years of age or older is eligible to receive the vaccine.

We recommend a parent or guardian accompany any minors to their appointment, or if this is not possible, that the minor comes to their vaccine appointment with a completed consent form.

Vaccine Appointment Reminders

  • Please note that only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for 12 to 17 year olds. Moderna's vaccine is only approved for people 18 and older.
  • A parent or guardian is requested to accompany minor patients. If this is not possible, minors should bring a complete consent form with them to their appointment.
  • You will be asked to schedule your second dose when you are scheduled your first shot. The second dose needs to be the same type of vaccine. For Pfizer vaccines, these second appointments are ideally scheduled 21 days after your first dose. For Moderna, the second appointments are scheduled 28 days after the first dose.
  • All vaccines are by appointment only, no walk-ins are accepted.
  • Do not arrive for your appointment more than 15 minutes early to help with social distancing.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine is being provided at no cost, however we will ask for insurance information to submit an administration fee to your insurance company if applicable. If insurance does not cover this fee, it will not be passed on to you.
  • A previous relationship with an LRH or PRH provider is not required and vaccine appointments are open to all people, regardless of insurance coverage or provider relationship.
  • You will be asked to complete this consent form prior to receiving your vaccine.
  • Depending on which vaccine you will be receiving, you may wish to read the appropriate fact sheet prior to arriving.

Q&A About the Vaccine

This vaccine, which has two doses, is critical in saving lives, stopping the spread of coronavirus, and ending the pandemic. You can learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and its safety at the links below.

Answers to other common questions about the vaccine.

Roundtable Discussion about Vaccine FAQ's with LRH Providers & Experts

Trusted Resources

CDC Vaccine Resources

MDH Vaccine Resources

Minnesota Vaccine Dashboard

Otter Tail County Public Health Vaccine Resources

Horizon Public Health Vaccine Resources (Grant, Stevens, Douglas, Pope & Traverse County)

FDA Vaccine Resources

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