COVID–19 Vaccine FAQ

Who can receive a vaccine through Mosaic?

• Any established Mosaic patient (5 years of age or older)
  • Minors must have parental consent.

I don’t have a Mosaic primary care provider; can I still schedule my vaccine through Mosaic?

Mosaic patients, who are established with a Mosaic provider (specialist or primary care provider), are eligible to receive a vaccine through Mosaic. Patients will need to contact their provider’s clinic for scheduling.

Where will the vaccine be administered?

Once an appointment is scheduled by the patient’s primary care office, vaccines will be administered at:

• Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph – Family Care North Pointe
  5210 N. Belt Hwy, Entrance C
  St. Joseph, Mo. 64506
• Mosaic Specialty Care – West
  2016 S. Main St.
  Maryville, MO 64468
• Mosaic Family Care – Albany (East Clinic)
  1607 Hwy 136 East
  Albany, MO 64402

When will appointments be?

COVID-19 vaccine first dose appointments will be scheduled on Tuesdays and second dose appointments will be scheduled on Thursdays.

Will there be a cost?

Yes, Mosaic will bill the individual’s insurance a $40 administration fee. Most insurances cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccine administration.

Is there a phone number to call to schedule an appointment?

No, individuals must call their primary care or specialist's clinic in order to get an appointment scheduled.

I received my first dose from a non-Mosaic location, can I schedule my second dose through Mosaic?

No, at this time, if you did not receive your first dose through the Mosaic clinic, you will not be able to receive your second at Mosaic. Please contact a local pharmacy for scheduling options.

What vaccine will I receive through Mosaic’s clinic?

Vaccine for first doses may vary based on vaccine availability. Please contact your Mosaic provider for more information about brands that are available.

• Pfizer–BioNTech
• Moderna

What should I bring to my vaccination appointment?

• Photo I.D. (state issued driver’s license or valid ID card) — minors can bring a school I.D.
• Insurance card

I need to schedule an appointment for my first dose, how do I schedule?

Starting May 4, 2021, Mosaic patients can schedule first doses by contacting their primary care provider or the specialist with whom they are established.

If you are not a Mosaic patient, please reach out to local pharmacies or visit https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/events/#region_h for options on how to receive the vaccine.

Who is currently eligible to receive vaccines?

All Missouri residents (5 years of age and older) are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Missouri residents 12 years of age or older are eligible to only receive the Pfizer vaccine at this time.

Check the state of Missouri website for the latest latest information at www.MoStopsCovid.com.

What should I expect when I arrive for my appointment?

• Vaccines will be provided only by appointment.
• In order to maintain social distancing, anyone not receiving a vaccine will be asked to remain outside the clinic area.
• Wear a loose shirt or top with the upper arm accessible.

Can I bring someone with me to my appointment?

In order to maintain social distancing, each person being vaccinated will be allowed to have one support person in the building. Support people must be 16 years of age or older.

Do I have to receive the second dose?

In order for the vaccine to reach maximum effectiveness, it is crucial that you receive the second dose. If you do not receive the second dose, you will not reach the approximate 95% immunity. While it's best to receive your second dose within defined time frames, the CDC says that within at least 42 days is still effective.

Where can I send people for additional information about the vaccine?

Mosaic Life Care accepts the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (www.fda.gov) as sources of truth. Mosaic encourages you to do your own research on the COVID-19 vaccine.

View the CDC Pre–vaccination checklist for COVID-19 vaccines prior to your appointment.

I have lost my vaccine card. Can I get it replaced?

Yes. You will need to contact your local health department for card replacement options.

Should I get vaccinated for COVID-19?

Vaccination is strongly recommended. The vaccine will help protect you from getting COVID-19. If you still get infected after you get vaccinated, the vaccine may prevent serious illness. By getting vaccinated, you can also help protect people around you.

Can the vaccine give me COVID-19?

No. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use or in development in the United States use the live virus that causes COVID-19. However, it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick.

If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated?

Yes. CDC recommends that you get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19, because you can catch it more than once. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection will last.

Can my child get vaccinated for COVID-19?

Children ages 5 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Is it safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for people with underlying health problems like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity. People with these conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Is it better to get natural immunity to COVID-19 rather than immunity from a vaccine?

No. While you may have some short-term antibody protection after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how long this protection lasts. Vaccination is the best protection, and it is safe. People who get COVID-19 can have serious illnesses, and some have debilitating symptoms that persist for months.

Why do I need two COVID-19 shots?

Some authorized vaccines require two doses of vaccine. The first shot helps the immune system recognize the virus, and the second shot strengthens the immune response. You need both to get the best protection.

Will the shot hurt or make me sick?

There may be side effects, but they should go away within a few days. Possible side effects include a sore arm, headache, fever, or body aches. This does not mean you have COVID-19. Side effects are signs that the vaccine is working to build immunity. If they don’t go away in a week, or you have more serious symptoms, call your doctor.

Are there long-term side effects from COVID-19 vaccine?

Because all COVID-19 vaccines are new, it will take more time and more people getting vaccinated to learn about very rare or possible long-term side effects. The good news is, at least 8 weeks’ worth of safety data were gathered in the clinical trials for all the authorized vaccines, and it’s unusual for vaccine side effects to appear more than 8 weeks after vaccination.

How do I know if COVID-19 vaccine is safe?

All COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people to make sure they meet safety standards and protect adults of different ages, races, and ethnicities. There were no serious safety concerns. CDC and the FDA will keep monitoring the vaccines to look for safety issues after they are authorized and in use.

How do I report problems or bad reactions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

This is a smartphone tool you can use to tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. If you report serious side effects, someone from CDC will call to follow up.

Do clinical trial results show whether vaccines are effective?

Yes. Clinical trials provide data and information about how well a vaccine prevents an infectious disease and about how safe it is. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates these data, along with information from the manufacturer, to assess the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine. FDA then decides whether to approve a vaccine or authorize it for emergency use in the United States.

After a vaccine is either approved or authorized for emergency use by FDA, more assessments are done before a vaccine is recommended for public use. The goal of these assessments is to understand more about the protection a vaccine provides under real-world conditions, outside of clinical trials.

After COVID-19 vaccines are approved or authorized for emergency use by FDA and recommended for public use, CDC will further assess their effectiveness. These real–world assessments will compare groups of people who do and don’t get vaccinated and people who do and don’t get COVID-19 to find out how well COVID-19 vaccines are working to protect people.

Why would the effectiveness of vaccines be different after the clinical trials?

Many factors can affect a vaccine’s effectiveness in real-world situations. These factors can include things such as how a vaccine is transported and stored or even how patients are vaccinated. Vaccine effectiveness can also be affected by differences in the underlying medical conditions of people vaccinated as compared to those vaccinated in the clinical trials.

Assessments of vaccine effectiveness can also provide important information about how well a vaccine is working in groups of people who were not included or were not well represented in clinical trials.

How will experts evaluate the COVID-19 vaccines in real-world conditions?

Experts are working on many types of real-world studies to determine vaccine effectiveness, and each uses a different method:

• Case-control studies will include cases (people who have the virus that causes COVID-19) and controls (people who do not have the virus that causes COVID-19). People who agree to participate in a case-control study will provide information on whether they received a COVID-19 vaccine or not. Experts will look to see if the cases were less likely to have received the vaccine than controls, which would show that the vaccine is working.
• A test-negative design study will enroll people who are seeking medical care for symptoms that could be due to COVID-19. In this special type of case-control study, experts will compare the COVID-19 vaccination status of those who test positive (meaning they have COVID-19) to those who test negative (meaning they do not have COVID-19).
• Cohort studies will follow people who have and haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccine for several months to see if getting vaccinated protects them from getting the disease. This can be done in real time (prospectively) or by looking back in time (retrospectively) using data that were already collected, such as information in participants’ medical records.
• Screening method assessments look at vaccination status among a group of cases (for example, cases detected through ongoing COVID-19 surveillance) and compares those cases with vaccination coverage among the overall population where those cases come from (for example people from the same state). By comparing coverage between these two groups, researchers can get an early estimate of whether a vaccine is working as expected.
• Ecologic analysis assessments look at groups of people – such as those in different geographic locations or at different times – to find out how many were vaccinated and how many were diagnosed with COVID-19. These analyses may be hard to interpret because the number of COVID-19 illnesses has changed rapidly over time and in different places.

CDC will use several methods because they can all contribute different information about how the vaccine is working.

Will assessments determine if the vaccines protect people from severe COVID-19 illness?

Yes. Severe illness from COVID-19 is defined as needing care in a hospital or intensive care unit (ICU), needing to be on a ventilator, or dying due to COVID-19.

• Experts will assess how well COVID-19 vaccines protect people against severe illness using case-control studies among hospitalized patients.
• Experts also will use cohort studies of electronic health records to see if people hospitalized with COVID-19 received the vaccine or not.

Will assessments determine if the vaccines protect people against mild illness?

Yes. CDC will use case-control studies to assess how well COVID-19 vaccines protect people against less severe forms of COVID-19 – for example, people with COVID-19 who need to visit a doctor but don’t need to be hospitalized.

Will assessments determine if the vaccines protect people who are ill with no symptoms at all?

Yes. Some people can be infected with or “carry” the virus that causes COVID-19, but they don’t feel sick or have any symptoms. Experts call this asymptomatic infection. It is important to know whether COVID-19 vaccines can help lower the number of people who have asymptomatic infection. People with asymptomatic infection can unknowingly spread the virus to others.

A special type of cohort study will find out how effective the vaccine is when people are asymptomatic. People who agree to participate will be tested for COVID-19 every week whether they have symptoms or not. Experts will then compare the proportion of people with infection who were vaccinated to the proportion of people with infection who were not vaccinated.

Who will be included in the real–world vaccine assessments?

CDC is working to make sure real-world vaccine assessments include diverse groups of people including the following:

Healthcare personnel and essential workers

Experts will rapidly assess vaccine effectiveness among healthcare personnel working in hospitals, long term care/skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes in selected sites across the United States. These assessments will show how well COVID-19 vaccines protect healthcare personnel from getting sick or having severe illness. Assessments among healthcare personnel and essential workers will also inform how well COVID-19 vaccines protect them against getting infected, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.

Older adults and those living in nursing homes

The risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, so making sure these vaccines protect older adults is critical. People living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities are at especially high risk of getting COVID-19 and severe disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will use CMS Medicare billing data to assess COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among older adults, including those living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. These data will include information about whether people received a COVID-19 vaccine, whether they got sick with COVID-19, and if they needed hospital care. This information will help inform how well the vaccine works in preventing COVID-19 and severe illness among older adults.

Experts will also use data from CDC and CMS to conduct a case-control assessment. Experts will identify older adults hospitalized for COVID-19 and older adults hospitalized for other reasons. They will then compare how many cases and controls received a COVID-19 vaccine to estimate vaccine effectiveness.

People with underlying medical conditions

To better understand how well COVID-19 vaccines protect people with underlying medical conditions who may be at increased risk for severe illness. Experts are working to make sure various real-world vaccine assessments will include adults with heart conditions, obesity, and diabetes. The real-world vaccine effectiveness assessments will also collect information about other underlying medical conditions. This information will be used to better understand how well COVID-19 vaccines protect people with underlying medical conditions.

People in racial and ethnic minority groups

Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19. CDC is working to ensure that real-world assessments of vaccine effectiveness include diverse populations, such as people from racial and ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19. CDC also is working with the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal nations, and other partners to ensure that these real world assessments include American Indian and Alaska Native populations who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. This is important to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines can help achieve health equity, so everyone has a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

These vaccines were produced so quickly. How do we know they are safe?

It is the U.S. vaccine safety system’s job to make sure that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety has been a top priority while federal partners have worked to make COVID-19 vaccines available for use in the United States.

The new COVID-19 vaccines have been evaluated in tens of thousands of individuals, who volunteered to be vaccinated and to participate in clinical trials. The information from these clinical trials allowed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. These clinical trials were conducted according to rigorous standards set forth by FDA.

FDA has determined that the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccines meet its safety and effectiveness standards. Therefore, FDA has made these vaccines available for use in the United States under what is known as an Emergency Use Authorization.

Will CDC continue to watch for problems with these new vaccines?

Yes. Even though no safety issues arose during the clinical trials, CDC and other federal partners will continue to monitor the new vaccines for serious side effects (known as adverse events) using many vaccine safety monitoring systems.

This continued monitoring can pick up on side effects that may not have been seen in clinical trials. If an unexpected side effect with the new COVID-19 vaccines is seen, experts can quickly study it further to determine if it is a true safety concern. Monitoring vaccine safety is critical to help ensure that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines continue to outweigh the risks for people who are vaccinated.

The current vaccine safety system is strong and robust, with the capacity to monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety effectively. Existing data systems can rapidly detect if a vaccine has any possible safety problems. These systems are being scaled up to fully meet the needs of the nation. Additional systems and data sources are also being developed to further enhance safety monitoring capabilities.

New vaccine safety monitoring systems and information sources

The following systems and information sources add another layer of safety monitoring, giving CDC and FDA the ability to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine safety in real time and make sure COVID-19 vaccines are as safe as possible:

CDC: V-SAFE — A smartphone–based, after–vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines. V-SAFE will use text messaging and web surveys from CDC to check in with vaccine recipients for health problems following COVID-19 vaccination. The system also will provide telephone follow up to anyone who reports medically significant (important) adverse events.

CDC: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) — An acute care and long-term care facility monitoring system with reporting to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System or VAERS

FDA: Other large insurer/payer databases — A system of administrative and claims-based data for surveillance and research

Existing Safety Monitoring Systems

The safety of vaccines is monitored all the time with multiple approaches. As people get vaccinated, CDC, FDA, and other federal partners will use the following existing, robust systems and data sources to conduct ongoing safety monitoring in the following groups:

General public

CDC and FDA: Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) — The national system that collects reports from healthcare professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the public of adverse events that happen after vaccination; reports of adverse events that are unexpected, appear to happen more often than expected, or have unusual patterns are followed up with specific studies

CDC: Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) — A network of 9 integrated healthcare organizations across the United States that conducts active surveillance and research; the system is also used to help determine whether possible side effects identified using VAERS are actually related to vaccination

CDC: Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) Project — A collaboration between CDC and 7 medical research centers to provide expert consultation on individual cases and conduct clinical research studies about vaccine safety

FDA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare data — A claims-based system for active surveillance and research

FDA: Biologics Effectiveness and Safety System (BEST) — A system of electronic health record, administrative, and claims-based data for active surveillance and research

FDA: Sentinel Initiative — A system of electronic health record, administrative, and claims-based data for active surveillance and research

Members of the military

Department of Defense (DOD): DOD VAERS data — Adverse event reporting to VAERS for the DOD populations

DOD: Vaccine Adverse Event Clinical System (VAECS) — A system for case tracking and evaluation of adverse events following immunization in DOD and DOD-affiliated populations

DOD: DOD Electronic Health Record and Defense Medical Surveillance System — A system of electronic health record and administrative data for active surveillance and research Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VA ADERS) — A national reporting system for adverse events following receipt of drugs and immunizations

VA Electronic Health Record and Active Surveillance System — A system of electronic health record and administrative data for active surveillance and research Tribal nations

Indian Health Service (IHS): IHS VAERS data — Spontaneous adverse event reporting to VAERS for populations served by IHS and Tribal facilities

Learn more about the mRNA vaccine

The first two COVID-19 vaccines expected to receive authorization for use in the United States are what is known as messenger RNA vaccines — also called “mRNA” vaccines.

You may have questions about how mRNA vaccines work and how safe they are.

• Like all vaccines, these COVID-19 mRNA vaccines were tested rigorously for safety before being authorized for use in the United States.
• mRNA technology is new, but not unknown. It has been studied for decades.
• mRNA vaccines do not contain live virus and carry no risk of causing disease in the vaccinated person.
• mRNA from the vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell and does not affect or interact with a person’s DNA.

A new approach to vaccines

mRNA vaccines take advantage of the process that cells use to make proteins in order to trigger an immune response and build immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In contrast, most vaccines use weakened or inactivated versions or components of the disease-causing pathogen to stimulate the body’s immune response to create antibodies.

Mechanism for action

mRNA vaccines have strands of messenger RNA inside a special coating. That coating protects the mRNA from enzymes in the body that would otherwise break it down. The coating also helps the mRNA enter the muscle cells near the vaccination site.

mRNA vaccines tell our cells to make a piece of the “spike protein” that is found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since only part of the protein is made, it does not harm the vaccine recipient, but it is antigenic and thus stimulates the immune system to make antibodies.

After the piece of the spike protein is made, the cell breaks down the mRNA strand and disposes of it using enzymes in the cell. As stated above, the mRNA strand never enters the cell’s nucleus or affects the vaccine recipient’s genetic material. Knowing this helps you respond to misinformation about how mRNA vaccines alter or modify someone’s genetic makeup.

Once displayed on the cell surface, the protein or antigen causes the immune system to begin producing antibodies. These antibodies are specific to the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein, which means the immune system is ready to protect against future infection.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines will continue to be rigorously evaluated for safety

These COVID-19 mRNA vaccines went through the same rigorous safety assessment as all vaccines do before the Food and Drug Administration authorizes them for use in the United States. This included large clinical trials and data review by a safety monitoring board.

mRNA vaccines have been studied for influenza, Zika, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Recent technological advancements in RNA biology and chemistry, as well as delivery systems, have mitigated the challenges of these vaccines and improved their stability and effectiveness.

Beyond vaccines, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have used mRNA to encode cancer antigens to stimulate immune responses targeted at clearing or reducing malignant tumors.

Benefits of mRNA vaccines

mRNA vaccines have several benefits compared to other types of vaccines, including use of a non-infectious element, shorter manufacturing times, and potential for targeting multiple diseases. mRNA vaccines can be developed in a laboratory using readily available materials. This means the process can be standardized and scaled up, making vaccine development faster than traditional methods. In the future, mRNA vaccine technology may allow for one vaccine to target multiple diseases.

Case Studies

Pfizer–BioNTech

Moderna

Has Mosaic had any suspected cases of COVID-19?

Yes. Mosaic has had individuals who have met CDC and state criteria to test for COVID-19 and who have tested positive. We continue to follow CDC and DHSS guidelines for screening and testing cases of COVID-19. If your Mosaic health-care provider thinks your symptoms and health history qualify you to receive a test, they will order a test. There are enough testing supplies available to hospitals across the country, including Mosaic, to meet testing needs within current criteria. However, the supplies are not unlimited and that is the reason testing is not available for everyone, including those with mild symptoms.

For the most updated information see our daily updates.

Is Mosaic testing for COVID-19?

Yes. Mosaic is closely following DHSS and CDC guidelines for testing. If a person meets this criteria, Mosaic has the ability to test. While testing access and guidelines continue to change, it is still necessary to base testing on the most up-to-date guidelines in our direct service area. Mosaic is working with the state, commercial labs and our internal lab to ensure we have tests available when needed.

Available tests does not mean we will test everyone who wants a test. We will continue to follow the DHSS and CDC testing guidelines in order to ensure we have supply for those who need it most. Having tests available should the virus spread, is an important priority for our organization. If we test everyone displaying mild symptoms, like some hospitals across the country, the current supply of testing supplies would quickly be exhausted and create a greater public health risk.

Please understand, proper treatment does not require a positive test result. If you need treatment, we will ensure best practices as recommended by DHSS and CDC are followed to provide the right care for what you are experiencing based on your personal health status and history. According to the CDC, most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have only mild illnesses and should recover at home.

Testing is also not a reliable way to identify exposure nor predict future symptoms. Testing negative one day, does not mean you are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 in the following days, weeks or months.

What are the priorities for testing?

According to the CDC as of now, the priorities for testing patients is as follows:

Symptoms must be present: Fever (100.4+), cough and shortness of breath

• Priority 1: Hospitalized patients; Healthcare facility workers (direct patient care)
• Priority 2: Patients in long-term care facilities; Patients 65 years of age and older; Patients with underlying conditions; First responders
• Priority 3: Critical infrastructure workers; Individuals with symptoms but no other criteria; Individuals with mild symptoms in communities with HIGH numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations
• Non-Priority: Individuals without symptoms

How do you get what is needed for a COVID-19 test?

A nasal swab is needed for the test. The test uses specific supplies to protect the specimen taken for successful lab testing.

How long does it take for tests to come back?

The amount of time it takes for a test result to return may vary based on which lab is doing the testing and what their current capacity is and their current demand.

State and commercial lab turnaround time based on demand is approximately 48 hours.

Why aren’t there drive-thru testing options?

Unfortunately, testing supplies available in our area are limited and must be saved to test those who meet the current Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and CDC guidelines. Federal, state and local elected and public health officials are working to expand testing availability. As those guidelines expand, Mosaic also expands testing.

Will Mosaic report COVID-19 cases to the MO Department of Health?

Yes. When Mosaic receives a positive test result, the department of health will work with the local health department to notify the community. This is the standard process followed for all reporting of infectious diseases even beyond COVID-19 in Missouri. Local health departments are the entity responsible for announcing positive tests in their respective counties and/or cities, as well as notifying and monitoring potential close contacts surrounding those positive cases.

All COVID-19 tests for patients are sent to the state lab for confirmation.

How is Mosaic prepared for handling COVID-19?

Mosaic’s top priority is to do what we have always done – put the needs of our patients and community first.

• We are closely following the guidance of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our leadership and caregivers are participating in daily conversations with experts from federal, state and local health-care authorities, as well as elected officials in our communities, state and nation.
• Teams across the Mosaic health system have been meeting regularly to prepare not for if, but when someone presents seeking diagnosis and treatment for COVID-19.
• Our staff and facilities are equipped to safely treat patients who may have COVID-19. We have also put safeguards in place to protect our guests and caregivers.
• We are continuously reviewing and updating our visitor policy to ensure we are doing everything we can to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
• We offer a 24/7 Community Nurse Line that you can call if you are not sure if you need to be seen at (816) 271 – 4000.

Mosaic caregivers are trained and prepared to serve our communities – COVID –19 is no exception.

How is Mosaic handling a suspected case in one of its hospitals?

Mosaic is closely following the DHSS and CDC’s screening recommendations. If someone suspects they may have COVID-19 and are at one of our medical centers, they will be screened in a designated screening area, to limit exposure to other patients and guests.

Screening questions evolve as the DHSS and CDC guidelines expand based on testing supply and capability. As of now, screening includes questions about travel history, potential exposure to COVID-19 and recent symptoms. There may also be more questions regarding your health history, current status and underlying health issues. If a person meets current testing criteria, or their provider determines a test is needed based on your health history, status and risk factors, Mosaic will follow traditional quarantine and isolation procedures while tests are performed.

How does Mosaic handle a suspected case in one of its clinics?

In line with current DHSS and CDC recommendations, Mosaic clinics are screening all people who are seeking care. Screening questions may take place before the patient arrives in the clinic and includes travel history, potential exposure to COVID-19, recent symptoms, health history and status. If someone meets testing criteria and has not arrived in the clinic, the clinic will contact the hospital for next steps. If the patient is already in the clinic, the clinic will isolate the patient, contact the hospital and determine next steps. As testing supplies become more available and DHSS and CDC guidelines expand based on that availability, Mosaic will adjust accordingly.

Is Mosaic using Virtual Visits to help triage and treat patients?

Yes. Our doctors and care teams have been reviewing their schedules and are offering patients the ability to have an appointment by phone or video if appropriate. Patients can also use MyChart to send their care team a message.

Is Mosaic still doing non-emergent surgeries?

At this time, it is best to talk to your surgeon to determine together whether your non-emergent surgery should still happen. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis as a shared decision between you and your surgeon. Patients may request to have their surgery rescheduled if they are not comfortable moving forward at this time.

Our providers may suggest rescheduling based on your health status and history. If you are unsure about your surgery, please contact your doctor to work on a plan that is right for you.

Can I visit someone at the hospital?

For the safety of our patients, caregivers and community, we have limited guests in our hospitals, clinics and other care areas. See the most updated version of our visitor policy.

It is recommended that all individuals on site at any Mosaic facility wear a mask. If you have a personal cloth mask/face cover, we ask that you please wear it, if you do not have a personal mask/face cover, an ear loop mask will be provided during the screening process when you enter a Mosaic facility.

What is Mosaic doing to sanitize the clinics and hospitals?

Safety is our priority and Mosaic follows the recommended guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding sanitation best practices surrounding COVID-19.

How is Mosaic treating patients with COVID-19?

Patients with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, are assessed to determine if they can manage their symptoms and recover at home under self-isolation or if they need further monitoring in the hospital. If someone requires hospitalization, we will follow quarantine and isolation procedures.

Does Mosaic have enough beds to handle COVID-19 patients and how is Mosaic prepared for keeping positive patients isolated?

Yes. As long as our community does their part to flatten the curve, Mosaic is prepared to serve the needs. The more people who follow public health directives and COVID-19 prevention practices, the better we can care for patients through this pandemic event.

Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph currently has 48 negative pressure rooms ready to care for and isolate COVID-19 patients, with an additional 48 that can become negative pressure should the need arise. Our intensive care unit (ICU) has negative pressure rooms. Additionally, there are negative pressure rooms in all our inpatient areas to accommodate patients with airborne illnesses.

Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville has three negative pressure rooms and is prepared to expand if necessary.

Mosaic Medical Center – Albany has two negative pressure rooms with capacity to expand if needed.

Does Mosaic have a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

No. At this time, Mosaic is in a strong supply position to manage times of crisis and high demand. It is important to note, in order for us to remain in a strong position, we need the communities we serve to do everything they can to help us flatten the curve by sheltering-in-place and practicing social distancing. The more we can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 the better positioned we are to treat those who do need help.

How long after exposure does a +/- result show up?

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear anywhere from 2 - 14 days after exposure. It is currently unknown how soon after being infected test results will show as positive.

My doctor’s office called and asked me if I wanted to change my appointment to a ‘virtual visit.’ Why?

The safety of our patients, caregivers and community is our top priority. We understand that access to health care is important and want to offer a way for our patients to keep their appointments without having to be physically at one of our locations. Virtual Visits can be done by phone or video depending on what you as the patient and what your provider need. Based on direction from the federal government, we have every reason to believe these visits will be covered by insurance. If you do not have insurance or cannot afford an office visit, that will not be a factor to receiving care. 

I was recently at one of your locations. How do I know if I’ve been exposed to COVID-19?

At this time, the likelihood of exposure from visiting one of our locations is low. The best way to protect yourself while you are in one of our locations is to maintain social distancing to the best of your ability and to frequently wash your hands.

As always, we would like to remind you how important it is to recognize any symptoms and call your doctor’s office immediately if you have developed symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19. Please visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about symptoms and when to call for care.

I have an appointment scheduled, should I cancel?

At this time, appointments are continuing as scheduled. Our care teams are reviewing their schedules and making decisions on a case-by-case basis. If your care team decides a change in your appointment is needed, they will let you know as soon as possible.

A top priority for Mosaic is having our patients be comfortable with their care. If you feel it is best to cancel your appointment, we understand and ask you to please call your doctor’s office directly. They may even have options for you to keep your appointment without having to come into the location.

If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please stay home, limit your exposure to other people and monitor symptoms. If symptoms progress, please call your doctor’s office or the 24/7 Community Nurse Line at (816) 271-4000 before visiting a Mosaic location.

Is it safe for me to deliver my baby at Mosaic Life Care?

Yes. We continue to care for all of our patients with the highest safety and quality standards. We are aligning all of our care with the recommendations provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19 may be new to our community, but caring for those with serious illness is not new to Mosaic. Mosaic cares for patients with complex illnesses, including infectious diseases on a daily basis, while protecting the health of our other patients.

Patients with serious infections are isolated and cared for in spaces appropriate for both their needs and the safety of others. We follow best practices for safety and quality to prepare for these patients while protecting others – including those in labor, babies, guests and our caregivers.

What is Mosaic doing to ensure patients and guests are safe?

Mosaic is actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation both globally and locally. Our focus is on prevention and strict enforcement of CDC guidelines. We have established a visitor policy which is updated as needed with safety as a priority.

Is Mosaic doing anything to help with billing during this time?

If your job has been impacted by COVID-19 and you receive a bill, please call (844) 261-7266. If you have not received a bill but you are on an existing payment plan or have future visits planned and need support, please call (816) 271-7524. Proof of employment will be requested for support – last paycheck stub.

Other steps being taken to help reduce financial stress include:

• Appointments to discuss financial assistance will still take place but will be done over the phone. We will also allow patients the ability to mail-in or securely drop off financial assistance applications in order to comply with social distancing requirements.
  • Mail-in applications may be mailed to:
    • St. Joseph
      Attention: Financial Counseling Department
      Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph
      5325 Faraon Street
      St. Joseph, Mo 64506
    • Maryville
      Attention: Financial Counseling Department
      Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville
      2016 Main Street
      Maryville, Mo 64468
    • Albany
      Attention: Financial Counseling Department
      Mosaic Medical Center – Albany
      705 N College Street
      Albany, Mo 64402
  • Drop-off applications can be brought to any of the medical center’s main entrances – attention Financial Counseling Department

• We are working with independent billing groups who bill our patients separately from Mosaic (Radiology, Orthopedic Surgery, Phoenix Urology, etc.) and requesting they follow our new billing process during this time. As we receive their responses, we will update this section.

We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed.

Updated March 11, 2022

At this time, general admission visitor restrictions have been lifted at Mosaic Life Care, except for a few areas listed below. It is recommended that all visitors entering a Mosaic facility practice social distancing guidelines and wear a mask for the entirety of the visit.

COVID-19 patients at all medical centers are allowed one support person per day, and the support person is not allowed to rotate in and out of the room.

All Mosaic Life Care Emergency Department Locations (St. Joseph, Maryville, Albany)

• Two visitors allowed. (Special allowances may apply due to patient condition/case.)

Maternity patients (labor and delivery):

• Two visitors are allowed with no age or rotation restrictions, however no one under the age of 16 may spend the night unless the person is the father of the newborn.
• During labor and delivery: no visitors may rotate in and out of room, and no one age 12 or under allowed.
• If the patient is COVID-19 positive, the visitor/support person is encouraged to stay for the duration of the hospital stay. 

Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

• One visitor is allowed, accompanied by one person with a security band.

Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph – Women's Health Plaza 2

• Patient may be accompanied by two visitors.

Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph – Cancer Care and Mosaic Cancer Care – Maryville

• Two visitors for clinic appointments.
• Two visitors for chemo and radiation teach/education.
• One visitor in infusion area.
• No visitors 18 years of age or younger.

Students and volunteers onsite

Volunteers and students will be allowed in all areas of the Mosaic organization under the following guidelines:

• Leadership in clinical setting may choose to limit or restrict volunteers as they see fit.
• Job shadows and students may return to all areas if following COVID-19 protocols.

Virtual clinic visits

At this time, Mosaic will continue to offer virtual clinic visits for patient convenience.

What can I expect from the screening process?

We are taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe by modifying access to our medical center entrances. Please note the following for visitor access and use the entrances listed below.

Click a map image to see a larger view.

St. Joseph

Medical Center Campus

• Main Entrance – 5 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Emergency Department (ED) Entrance – Open 24/7
• Maternity Entrance (only for expecting moms and one guest) – Open 24/7
• Plaza 1 – 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Plaza 2 – 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Plaza 3 – 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Parking Garage Link – 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Maryville

Medical Center Campus

• Main Entrance – Open 24/7
• Healing Garden Entrance (chemo patients only) – 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Specialty Clinic West Main Entrance – 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Albany

Medical Center Campus

• Emergency Department (ED) – Open 24/7
• Main Entrance – 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

State/County COVID–19 Information

For positive results by state/county please visit:

• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Mosaic wants to assure our patients and our community that the system is working closely with local, state and federal health officials to prepare to and respond to potential needs surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Safety is our top priority for our patients, visitors and caregivers.

Hospitals and health systems, including Mosaic, treat patients with respiratory illnesses on a daily basis. We also train, practice and prepare for the unexpected. Mosaic caregivers have the education, training, tools and processes in place to isolate and care for patients who are potentially at risk for COVID-19. We follow best practice medicine as well as guidelines identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of common viruses that can cause illnesses that may range from the common cold to severe respiratory infections like pneumonia. COVID-19 or the novel (new) coronavirus that is causing concern, is a respiratory illness which includes not only an upper respiratory tract infection, but also a lower respiratory tract infection. These infections can then lead to pneumonia and breathing issues, especially for those individuals with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems. The best way to avoid contracting COVID-19, is to use the recommended best practices of social distancing, hand washing, staying home if you are sick and covering your cough and sneezes with a tissue.

How is COVID-19 spread?

Coronaviruses, including the new COVID-19, spread much like the flu or common cold:

• Coughing or sneezing causing droplets to travel through the air
• See regularly updated CDC list of ways COVID-19 is spread
• The virus can exist on surfaces for a period of time
• It is not likely that the virus spreads through feces

Symptoms can be like those of a common cold or flu. Most common symptoms include a fever of 100.4 or higher, cough and shortness of breath. Just because you have symptoms, does not mean you have COVID-19. There are many different types of coronaviruses.

What do I need to know about the symptoms?

Symptoms have been known to appear as early as 2 days after being exposed or as late as 14 days. Symptoms are like a cold or flu and include fever, cough and shortness of breath.They usually last up to 14 days.

A majority of people will fully recover and only experience minimal symptoms, some even show few to no symptoms at all. There are, however, higher risks for complications for those with underlying health conditions, especially if you are over the age of 60. Underlying health conditions may include:

• Patients under 36 months
• On immunosuppressive therapy
• Cancer
• End-stage renal disease and are on dialysis
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure reduced ejection fraction
• Lung disease
• Contact with a known COVID-19 patient
• HIV/AIDS
• Solid organ transplants

Who is most at risk to get COVID-19?

Anyone can get COVID-19, but, as of right now, the most severe cases have been those who are over the age of 60 and those who have chronic health conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory disease.

While persons younger than 60 generally appear less at risk, it does not mean you should not take COVID-19 seriously and not comply with public health measures such as shelter-in-place directives and best practices to avoid getting or spreading COVID-19.

What about children and COVID-19?

For the majority of children, COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms. However, recent reports of a rare inflammatory condition in children linked with the coronavirus is becoming increasingly alarming for parents. 

This new syndrome is thought to be linked to COVID-19 and can develop two to six weeks after the infection. The majority of these children have tested positive for COVID-19 or have antibodies suggesting exposure. Many of these children had only minimal symptoms prior to the onset of the condition. 

The syndrome is like other serious inflammatory conditions such as Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Children can have problems with their heart and other organs and need to receive medical care in a hospital.

Signs and symptoms

• Fever of 100.4 F or greater for more than 24 hours
• Serious abdominal pain that gets progressively worse
• Vomiting
• A red rash on hands, forearms and chest, but can appear anywhere
• Red eyes
• Red, cracked lips
• Red, bumpy tongue that looks like a strawberry
• Swollen hands and feet which may also be red
• Muscle soreness
• Racing heart or chest pain
• Poor feeding

If your child develops a persistent fever of 100.4 F or above and any of the above symptoms, immediately contact your primary care provider by phone or take your child to the emergency room. A doctor will assess the symptoms to determine treatment.

You can take steps to prevent your child from getting this rare inflammatory condition by limiting exposure to COVID -19. Wear face masks, use good hand hygiene and maintain physical distancing. Children with underlying health conditions can be at higher risk, making prevention even more important.

How can we prevent the spread of COVID-19?

You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following the same steps you would take to help prevent the flu:

• Wash your hands regularly – wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water, especially after sneezing, coughing or going to public places.
• Use hand sanitizer – in addition to washing your hands, alcohol-based sanitizers and wipes with at least 60% alcohol help keep hands clean.
• Social Distancing – Don’t shake hands, avoid crowds and keep at least 6 feet between you and other people.
• Cover your mouth and nose – cough and sneeze into your elbow.
• Don’t touch your face – keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces

Above all else, if you are not feeling well or have any symptoms, avoid going into public and call your health-care provider.

Does the flu shot protect me from COVID-19?

No. However, having the flu shot can help you from getting influenza, which has similar symptoms to COVID-19 and can be confused for the virus. It is still highly recommended that everyone gets a flu shot. The best protection is social distancing, washing your hands, staying home if you are sick and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue.

What should I do if I have cold or flu symptoms?

First and foremost, if you are not feeling well, stay home, rest and drink lots of fluids. Be aware of your symptoms and if you notice them getting worse, call your doctor’s office. If you do not have a doctor, call the 24/7 Community Nurse Line at (816) 271 – 4000.

If you think your symptoms may be related to COVID-19, before you go to any doctor’s office, urgent care or emergency department, please call ahead. You can also call the 24/7 Community Nurse Line, (816) 271 – 4000 for information on what to do.

Is it true lab results that will come back positive for coronavirus, but are different from COVID-19?

Yes, that is true. Coronaviruses are actually a large group of viruses that are very common in people and different species of animals. In humans, coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections which can range from the common cold to more severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus is what we now know as coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

According to the National Foundation of Infectious Disease, most people get infected with human strains of coronavirus at some point or even multiple points during their lifetimes. The symptoms of the coronavirus family may include: runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, new loss of taste and smell and/or fever. Human coronaviruses can cause other illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Learn more about symptoms from the CDC.

If you receive lab results that indicate positive for coronavirus, please know, this does not mean you are positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 requires very specific testing and will be identified clearly on results. There are many types of coronaviruses, please make sure you ask your doctor for clarification if you are unclear about a result you receive.

Screening vs. Testing for COVID-19

Mosaic is currently SCREENING all patients, visitors (please see the visitor policy before coming to any location) and caregivers at all Mosaic facilities.

Screening:

• Mosaic has limited entrances for the safety of our patients, caregivers and visitors. Public and caregiver entrances can be found at myMLC.com/corona and are well marked.

Testing:

• Testing occurs only IF the screening process indicates someone meets the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and CDC guidelines and directives. The decision to test is made on a case-by-case basis.

Not being tested does not mean we are not taking your health seriously. In an ideal situation, we would test anyone who requested it. However, our region still has very limited tests available. While we are working to increase access to testing, we need to manage our resources carefully.

We are currently using both state and commercial labs. We are in the process of working on options with our internal lab. Even with that work, it has not significantly increased the supply of tests or the amount of time it takes to get results back. DHSS and CDC guidelines evolve as testing supplies and lab processing capabilities expand. Mosaic follows these guidelines as appropriate.

For a majority of individuals, even if they test positive, they are sent home to self-quarantine according to CDC guidelines. Unless, there are significant health risks, most people do not need to be treated in a hospital setting. We encourage everyone to call if they have symptoms and be less concerned about testing and more concerned about following the recommendations of the CDC to reduce the spread.

Steps to Protect Yourself and Others

Remember the everyday basics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to limit the transmission of respiratory diseases, including the flu and COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick
• Clean and disinfect regularly
• Stay home when you are sick

Things to Consider if Planning a Visit to the Hospital

To prevent the spread of seasonal flu, intestinal viral illnesses and other infectious diseases, please follow these guidelines:

• Do not visit the hospital if you or members of your household are sick, especially from upper respiratory infection (coughing, sneezing, congestion) or gastrointestinal illness (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea).
• Note that intensive care, maternity units and other areas of the hospital have specific visiting guidelines.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after visiting patients.

Thank you for helping us keep our patients, visitors and communities healthy.

What to Do if You Are Feeling Ill

Call your doctor's office or urgent care center if you think you have symptoms or have been exposed.

• Call before you arrive at your doctor's office or urgent care center
• Let your doctor's office know about your symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms include
  • Fever
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste and smell
  • Runny nose
  • Congestion
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
• Also let your doctor know if you have:
  • Been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19
  • Have traveled to an area with sustained transmissions.

For the latest information on COVID-19, please consult the CDC resources.

Reliable Sources for Research About Vaccines

Mosaic Life Care accepts the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (www.fda.gov) as sources of truth. Mosaic encourages you to do your own research on the COVID-19 vaccine.

You may also visit MOStopsCOVID for Missouri's vaccination information. To access the resources, go to the vaccinators section and scroll to the bottom to find printable, social, digital and other messaging resources available for download. The digital section includes a video from Dr. Aamina Akhtar who is a St. Louis-area physician. Ongoing updates will include some improved descriptions and rumor-control assets.

Before you do, consider these traits of reliable content:

• The source is in-depth (more than a page or two) with references and documented research or data.
• The content appeals to general readership but might also engage professionals in the worlds education, health care and law.
• The purpose of the source is to provide, inform and educate rather than to entertain or persuade.
• The authors should be credible, respected in their field and easily identified. They will have written about similar topics, and the information is current.
• Supporting documentation such as graphs, charts, illustrations or other supporting documentation add to the credibility of the source and content.

Then, consider these traits of a reliable website:

• Government or military (.gov or .mil) websites are, in general, reliable sources. Be aware of political sites used to sway public opinion.
• University websites end in .edu and are usually reliable. Always use these sites with caution, checking for credibility and authority.
• Company websites generally end in .com. They are a great source of information for a particular company or product, but remember, they are used to promote. Be sure the information is non-biased.
• Many professional organizations end in .org and were once the “gold standard” in terms of reliability. Recently, however, they have also been used to promote a specific agenda.

Finally, you’ll know if you have a source of truth by considering how the information will impact the author, the company or the brand when you, the consumer, reads it. If the author, company or brand does not benefit by what has been said, it can be considered reliable.