Vaccine Information for Employees
The first vaccines for COVID-19 have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Here is what you need to know as a Mount Sinai faculty or staff member.
As of now, in accordance with New York State Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, we are offering vaccination to all Mount Sinai employees who are required to be onsite in all facilities, including those expected to assist with our COVID-19 surge response, as well as employees working remotely who are 65 and over. If you are not in one of those categories, we will notify you as soon as we receive New York State Department of Health approval that you are eligible. (Updated 1/13/21)
For more details, please refer to the following resources. These will be updated frequently.
- Pfizer fact sheet for patients - Updated December 13, 2020
- Moderna fact sheet for patients - Updated December 22, 2020
- Talking Points: COVID-19 Vaccines - Updated January 10, 2021
- What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines - Updated January 11, 2021
- Lo que necesita saber sober la vacunas del COVID-19 (Spanish) - 1.11.2021
- COVID-19 ভ্যাকসিন সম্পর্কে আপনার কি কি জানাদরকার (Bengali) - 1.11.2021
- COVID-19 疫苗的須知事項 (Chinese) - 1.11.2021
- Sa ou bezwen konnen sou COVID-19 Vaksen(French Creole) - 1.11.2021
- Что необходимо знать о вакцинах против COVID-19 (Russian) - 1.11.2021
- Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines - public-facing vaccine site
- Talking Points for Patients Calling With Vaccine-Related Questions - Updated January 12, 2021
- Vaccine-Related Documents for the Public
- Angela Bianco, MD, on the COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy
- There are a lot of myths on the internet about COVID-19 vaccines. Mount Sinai is working with a company called NewsGuard to provide the most accurate information. If you’ve heard something that sounds questionable and want to know if it’s true or not, you can look it up in NewsGuard’s report on the top COVID-19 vaccine myths.
- COVID-19 Employee Vaccination FAQs (printable version) - Updated January 11, 2021
- Learning the Facts: Undoing Myths About the COVID-19 Vaccines - updated December 24, 2020
Will taking the vaccine give me COVID-19?
No. It is NOT possible for the Pfizer vaccine, nor any of the other COVID-19 vaccines in advanced clinical trials, to give you COVID-19.
How will I know when can I get vaccinated?
We will let you know when it is your turn to get vaccinated. Initially, we will not be able to vaccinate everyone, but over time our goal is to offer vaccine to all Mount Sinai employees.
Is vaccination mandatory for Mount Sinai employees?
We strongly encourage all Mount Sinai Health System faculty, staff, trainees, and students to get the vaccine as soon as they are eligible. However, at this time, it is not mandatory. That may change as the pandemic progresses—and as we get guidance from federal, state and city health agencies—but for now, COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory.
Are you offering the vaccine to voluntary physicians affiliated with Mount Sinai?
Yes. Voluntary physicians will be included at the appropriate time based on state prioritization guidelines.
Will my work assignment depend on whether I get vaccinated?
Vaccination status will not affect your work assignment. We did not change any work assignments based on COVID-19 antibody status and will not do so based on whether or not you are vaccinated.
How will my work be covered as you schedule vaccinations on my unit?
When you get vaccinated, we will cover for you on your unit for the time that the vaccination appointment takes. We will be scheduling vaccinations in a staggered manner to make sure that all units have appropriate coverage during this time.
What should I do if I don’t feel well after vaccination?
It is common to have side effects after a vaccination. They mean your immune system is working and making antibodies as it’s supposed to. Most of the side effects reported with the Pfizer vaccine are mild and go away quickly, especially with over-the-counter pain medicines.
If you experience side effects that are strong enough to interfere with work, please take a PTO day.
When will I get the vaccine?
As of now, in accordance with New York State Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, we are offering vaccination to all Mount Sinai employees who are required to be onsite in all facilities, including those expected to assist with our COVID-19 surge response, as well as employees working remotely who are 65 and over. If you are not in one of those categories, we will notify you as soon as we receive New York State Department of Health approval that you are eligible. (Updated 1/13/21)
Do I have to pay for the vaccine?
No. The vaccine will be provided to you at no cost.
Can our immediate family members with significant risk factors get the vaccine?
Yes, they will be able to get the vaccine. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will decide how COVID-19 vaccines are distributed and when high risk-patients like your family members can be vaccinated. We must follow those DOH guidelines and will not be able to make exceptions to them.
Will health care workers who also have comorbidities and/or are over 65 also be on the initial list?
We will follow the ACIP and NYSDOH guidance on providing vaccination to health care providers. We will include all high-risk health care workers based on the environment in which they work and their risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Eventually, once multiple vaccine candidates have been approved, will we be able to choose which one we take?
We encourage you to take the vaccine you are offered and not wait for another vaccine to become available.
What support will the hospital system provide should anyone have a significant adverse event as a result of the vaccination?
Like with any vaccine, any unexpected or adverse events will be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Both the NYSDOH and MSHS have systems in place to support the health of our employees.
Will there be an MD on site where vaccines are administered? Will there be medicines for anaphylaxis or other severe reactions nearby?
The staff at the vaccination site will be prepared to attend to any emergency including a rare allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
Once you've received the vaccine, do you stay behind for a brief monitoring for any immediate reaction?
Yes. After receiving the vaccine, you will be asked to stay for a short period of time so that we can monitor you for any reactions to the vaccine.