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MHCC Launches Vaccine Clinic and Hotline

UPDATE: Please note that the vaccine clinic is only for residents of Converse County. Effective January 15th, 2021 proof of residency will be required to receive a vaccine at our clinic location. While we appreciate patients traveling from other counties to receive the vaccine and their interest, we must caution any who do so will be referred back to their county health department should they present for the vaccine without proof of Converse County residency. Proof of residency can be Driver's License, Photo ID, or similar identification that shows the vaccine recipient's name and current physical address. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Memorial Hospital of Converse County (MHCC) is continuing to provide vaccines according to the Wyoming Department of Health's tiers. After the initial vaccination of individuals who met the criteria of Tier 1a (including healthcare personnel and staff), the next Tier, 1b, includes the following individuals:

MHCC is currently operating a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for those members of our community who want to receive the vaccine and are members of the above Tier 1b. Located on the hospital's fourth floor, the new clinic is open Monday through Friday from 1-3 pm. Staffed by three registered nurses on our MHCC staff, the COVID-19 vaccine at our clinic is provided at no cost.

Individuals who wish to receive the vaccine can walk-in during the clinic’s operating hours or make an appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 307-359-5371. When receiving the vaccine, patients will need to plan on remaining at the clinic for ten minutes for post-vaccine monitoring and plan on returning for their booster approximately 28 days after the initial dose. Currently, the FDA does not recommend mixing doses between the two approved vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, and recipients of the vaccine in Converse County will receive the Moderna dose.

For those who are not yet able to receive the vaccine, the Converse County Public Health Department (CCPH) is maintaining a contact list of those who want to receive the vaccine in the future. To be put on this list, please call 307-358-2536. There are plans for drive-thru clinics specific to those who have signed up to receive the vaccine when their appropriate Tier becomes available. CCPH will utilize the City of Douglas's Code Red system to notify these individuals when and where they should go for their vaccines when available.

The COVID-19 Vaccines were approved in December of 2020 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA). The process for approvals on both of these vaccines was able to be expedited due to the very nature of the vaccine's mRNA technology. Since a version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not need to be introduced to the immune system, the approvals process could more easily be expedited. Further, the technology behind the mRNA has been in development since the late sixties, so it is not entirely new and was able to move through the approvals process due to its history of research and development and the emergent need due to the pandemic.

For further information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and these vaccines, please go to our COVID-19 information page at conversehospital.com/covid19.

Further Updates To Changes In Operations (those bolded and italicized are updates):

COVID-19 spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. In order to keep our patients and staff safe, Memorial Hospital has enacted the following measures.

• A COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is now operating on MHCC’s 4th Floor
• A COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline has been established, 307-359-5371
• Patients are asked to monitor for additional symptoms of COVID-19
• Visitors to the hospital must wear masks in all locations and at all times
• The Ambassador Program and Care Ride are suspended for the foreseeable future.
• Visitations policies to the hospital have changed, effective immediately
• The Respiratory Illness Clinic site is supported by Medical Office Building and Emergency Department staff.
• All MHCC Clinics and Services are open and supporting in-person appointments.
• Telehealth visits are offered for patients.
• The Hospital Main Entrance will be open and monitored Monday thru Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM.
• All hospital exterior doors will remain locked after hours.
• The Emergency Department Entrance Will Remain Open 24 Hrs.

COVID-19 Hotline:

Memorial Hospital has established a COVID-19 Hotline for patients with questions or concerns about their symptoms. The Hotline is managed by the Emergency Department at MHCC. Patients who call the Hotline with symptoms will be asked a series of questions. Treatment advice will be given based on the patient’s answers. The Hotline Number is (307) 358-7399.