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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Mayo Clinic has outlined plans to begin administering COVID-19 vaccine shots to its patients.

In response to the Trump administration's decision to stop holding back reserves of the vaccine to be used for second doses and to speed up the vaccination of older people and adults at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, the Mayo Clinic has modified its criteria for vaccine eligibility. The guidance continues to place health care personnel and long-term care residents at the top of the priority list.

The second phase now includes patients who are at least 75-years-old and so-called "frontline essential workers." Following that, the vaccine will be offered to people 65-years and older and anyone over the age of 16 with a high-risk condition, along with remaining "essential workers."

The Mayo Clinic news release says the guidelines for the next phases have yet to be finalized, but they are projected to start with people in congregate living settings and adults with some increased risk.

Mayo Clinic patients with an assigned primary care provider will receive an invitation to be vaccinated through the Mayo Clinic patient online services portal, while patients without an online account will be sent a letter when the vaccine is available for their priority category. The news release says Mayo expects to receive information sometime this week from Minnesota and Wisconsin health officials on when it can begin bringing in patients for the shots.

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