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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID Vaccine Information for MCC Students
Where can I find official information about the COVID vaccine?

Midwestern Career College encourages our community members to rely on information from trusted sources, including state, city, and public health official websites.

CDC Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq

Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-distribution

City of Chicago COVID-19 Vaccine Information
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home.html

Indiana State Vaccine Information and Planning
https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/

Is the vaccine safe?

According to the information provided by the CDC,

  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
  • Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.
  • CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.

Over 52 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through February 14, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA).

Sources: CDC Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines; City of Chicago’s FAQ on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine
 

I’m not a US citizen. Can I still get the vaccine?

Yes. The Department of Homeland Security encourages all individuals, regardless of immigration status, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine once eligible under local distribution guidelines.

Source: DHS Statement on Equal Access to COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccine Distribution Sites

I do not have health insurance. Can I still get the vaccine?

Yes, you can. The Illinois plan allows providers to charge an administration fee but states that it will not be passed on to those receiving the vaccine — even the uninsured.

Source: Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
 

Do I have to pay for the vaccine?

No. The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States. Vaccination providers can be reimbursed for vaccine administration fees by the patient’s public or private insurance company or, for uninsured patients, by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund. You should not be denied a vaccine if you are unable to pay a vaccine administration fee.​

Source: CDC Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
 

Am I eligible to get the vaccine right now?

States and cities are distributing the vaccine in phases. In Illinois, we are currently in phase 1b. The community members that eligible for the vaccine in this phase are:

  • Frontline essential workers in non-healthcare residential settings
  • Residents 65 and older

This is in addition to the community members in phase 1a:

  • Healthcare workers
  • Long-term care and other residential healthcare facilities

The next phases will be:

Phase 1c:

  • All essential workers
  • People aged 16-64 years with underlying medical conditions

Phase 2:

  • All residents aged 16 and older

To find more information on the distribution phases in Chicago, click here:

Vaccine Distribution Phases in Chicago

To find information on the distribution phases in your city or county, look on your city or county’s website.

Further sources: Illinois Department of Public Health Vaccine Distribution
 

How do I know when I am eligible for the vaccine? How can get updates on when I will be eligible?

Go through your city or county website to sign up for the vaccine eligibility updates. When you are in the eligible group, you will receive a notification with your unique registration number. After you have your registration number, you will be able to schedule your vaccine appointment.

Here are links to register for the vaccine in the counties in and around Chicago:

If you don’t know your county, type your zip code or city into this site to find which county you are in: https://www.uscounties.com/ Then, search for your county and/or city’s COVID-19 vaccination registration form.

How do I sign up to get the vaccine?

Currently, vaccination is available by appointment only for eligible individuals. The vaccine will be offered at no cost to all Illinois residents who want it, but patience is needed while vaccine quantities increase.  Be aware that most provider office locations have been instructed to start vaccination of their current patients before opening up appointments to others.

To find a vaccination location near you, click here: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location

Here are the steps to register for your vaccine appointment:

  1. Register with your city, town, or county to receive notifications about when you are eligible to get vaccinated.
  2. When vaccines are widely available, here are some providers that will be able to provide the vaccine:
How many shots of the COVID-19 vaccine will be needed?

The currently authorized vaccines to prevent COVID-19 in the United States require 2 shots to get the most protection:

  • Pfizer-BioNTech doses should be given 3 weeks (21 days) apart
  • Moderna doses should be given 1 month (28 days) apart

Your second appointment will be scheduled by the vaccine provider. Get your second shot as scheduled.


Source: CDC Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
 

Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others after I have gotten 2 doses of the vaccine?

Yes. To protect yourself and others, follow these recommendations:

  • Wear a mask over your nose and mouth
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others
  • Avoid crowds
  • Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
  • Wash your hands often

It’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Experts are also looking at how many people get vaccinated and how the virus is spreading in communities. We also don’t yet know whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself. 

Source: CDC Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
 

Does MCC require students and/or staff to get the COVID vaccine?

Midwestern Career College encourages anyone eligible for the vaccine to make an appointment and get vaccinated. However, at this moment, the college does not require its students or staff to get the COVID vaccine.

All information in this FAQ has come from the official sources listed below.


Midwestern Career College encourages our community members to rely on information from trusted sources, including state, city, and public health official websites.

CDC Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq

Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-distribution

City of Chicago COVID-19 Vaccine Information
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home.html

Indiana State Vaccine Information and Planning
https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/

DHS Statement on Equal Access to COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccine Distribution Sites
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/02/01/dhs-statement-equal-access-covid-19-vaccines-and-vaccine-distribution-sites