COVID-19 Vaccine Updates, Side Effects and New Virus Strains

February 11, 2021 | 3 min. to read

In accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines, NM has begun vaccinating established NM patients age 65 and older. Invitations will be staggered by age and ZIP code to ensure equity and efficiency.
 
To ensure established NM patients are captured in this process, please encourage them to sign up for MyNM (formerly NM MyChart). Those who have a MyNM account will receive their vaccine invitation through that portal. If they are not enrolled in MyNM, the invitation will come via their preferred communication method — text message, email or phone call.

Patients can learn more about MyNM and sign up at nm.org/mynm. The page also includes instructions for downloading the MyNM® app.
 
Answers to frequently asked questions are available to patients on the COVID-19 Vaccines page on nm.org. You can use a variety of NM resources to encourage patients to get vaccinated:

• Suggest patients visit the COVID-19 Vaccines page on nm.org.
• Share this recent HealthBeat article to help explain the vaccine.
• Watch the “Doses of Truth” segments on the Why I Got Vaccinated page.
• Participate in the “Why I Got Vaccinated" campaign.

 
Additional vaccine education resources are available on the Vaccine and Treatment Resources page on Physician Forum and the Vaccine and Treatment Resources page on NM Interactive (login required).

COVID-19 Vaccination Resources For Essential Workers
At the present time, NM is not administering vaccine to essential workers outside of the NM workforce. We encourage those eligible for vaccination in Illinois Phase 1B to enroll for vaccination at a community-based clinic.
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Eligible front-line essential workers include:

• First responders
• Education employees, such as teachers, principals and school support staff
• Child care workers
• Homeless shelter staff
• Grocery store employees
• United States Postal Service employees
• Public transit workers
• Food and agriculture workers, such as processing plant and veterinary employees
• Corrections workers and inmates
• Manufacturing workers

Health departments and pharmacies are now offering the vaccine, and the Illinois National Guard will operate large vaccine clinics in Cook County.

• An appointment for a vaccine at an Illinois National Guard site is required and can be made on the Cook County Community Vaccination Program website.
• A list of community-based Illinois vaccine locations and enrollment instructions can be found on the State of Illinois Vaccination Location web page.

​As we begin Phase 1B of the vaccination program, we encourage patience, as the current number of individuals interested in the vaccine is far greater than the available supply.

Vaccination Side Effects and New COVID-19 Strains