Lee Health Covid-19 Vaccine

Lee Health COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Updated January 15, 2021

The goal of rapidly getting the vaccine to as many people as possible brings with it complex supply chain issues, but it is important for you to understand we have a dedicated group of leaders who are working together to get the vaccine out to our community. Lee Health, the State of Florida, Lee County and the Department of Health Lee County are working as a team to provide multiple points of distribution to get our community vaccinated. We all have the same goals of protecting people and creating herd immunity as quickly as possible.

This collaboration allows each organization to leverage their respective roles in our community to increase the number of access points to provide more vaccines. Lee County and the Department of Health are focusing on the general public, and they have established a well-organized vaccination site at RSW. Lee Health is committed to providing any support they need to help the process run smoothly and vaccinate as many people as possible. While the county and health department focus on the general public, Lee Health will be taking care of special populations such as health care workers, our volunteers and patients who qualify for the vaccine under the Governor’s Executive Order. We have also been working with CVS to vaccinate patients and employees at our skilled nursing facilities.

We are ramping up to our goal of providing up to 1,000 vaccinations a day.  As stewards of this community resource, we are also sharing the vaccine with other large medical practices so they can vaccinate their own staff. 

We have a robust plan in place to deliver the vaccine, and we have hired about two dozen additional nurses and customer service reps to help with vaccination sites. Demand for the vaccine is higher than our supply, and while we have been assured that more doses are coming, we ask for the community’s patience as we roll out new access points across our region. 

Lee Health contact centers are experiencing an influx of calls due to inquiries about the COVID-19 vaccine leading to prolonged hold times and busy signals. Please do not call to book a vaccination appointment at this time as Lee Health’s supply of the vaccine is spoken for.

A solution to support increased call capacity is in the works but could take several weeks for the health system to implement. Lee Health is asking the community to be patient as they work through these challenging times to adequately resolve any issues.

If you are calling for another reason and cannot reach us by phone, please access MyChart to request other types of appointments.

Lee County Community Vaccination Site (Ages 65+ / healthcare workers only)

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) is offering COVID-19 vaccine to high-risk frontline healthcare workers and those 65 and older.

visit: https://www.leegov.com/covid-19/vaccine

Follow Lee County Government's Twitter for updates.

Have you already received the COVID-19 Vaccine? 

You have just received a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. Lee Health thanks you for getting vaccinated to protect yourself, your community, and our healthcare workers.

Here are some things you need to know:

Follow-Up

If you just received your first dose, the second dose must be given according to manufacturer guidelines, one month from initial day of vaccination.

Side Effects

Side effects from the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may include fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, chills, nausea and vomiting, and fever, as well as pain and swelling at the injection site. 

You may also experience tenderness and swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection. Most of the side effects are short-lived and will resolve in 24-48 hours. The occurrence of side effects may be more pronounced with the second dose, so you may want to schedule that dose before a day off from work.

If You Experience Side Effects

You may take Tylenol or Advil to alleviate some of your symptoms. Contact your primary care physician for additional non-emergency concerns.

Allergic Reactions

There is a remote chance that the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction shortly after you receive your dose.

For this reason, we will ask that you stay onsite for 15 minutes after your injection.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face and throat
• A fast heartbeat
• A rash on your body
• Dizziness and weakness

After you leave our site, if you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.