Frequently asked questions
Does Mount Nittany Health have a plan for managing a pandemic?
Yes. Mount Nittany Health has a plan to manage a pandemic like COVID-19 . We have practiced this plan and are now executing on it to manage our resources effectively. This includes initiating a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Team (CPRT), which meets regularly to plan on how we can meet the needs of our patients today while planning how to manage the potential of a dramatic increase of patient volumes in the future.
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Strictly adhering to infection & prevention control policie -
Daily monitoring of elective/non-essential services, with reductions made as needed. Depending on future trends, other services may also be adjusted as the health system balances care for COVID hospitalized patients and those needing -
Limiting the number of people in our facility through temporary visitor restrictions -
Implementing screenings and temperature checks for anyone who enters Mount Nittany Health’s facilities -
Extending masking requirements to patients and visitors at all Mount Nittany Health facilities -
Continuing the education of employees and staff
What steps is Mount Nittany Health taking related to COVID-19?
The health and well-being of our staff, patients and visitors is our top priority. Mount Nittany Health is working closely with public health officials and other community health agencies to monitor local conditions related to COVID-19 (coronavirus).
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Screening
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Requiring patients, visitors, employees and providers to mask
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Using telehealth when possible to provide care
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New protective barriers between patients and staff in registration areas
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Scheduling time between patient visits to limit/eliminate people in the waiting rooms and practice social distancing
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Temporary visitation restrictions
Where can I learn more about the vaccine and the distribution process?
What are the phases of vaccine distribution?
Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The vaccine is another tool that is available to help stop the pandemic. The vaccine will arm your immune system if you acquire the virus, while other measures such as wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands frequently are still needed to keep from spreading the virus to others.
How many doses of the vaccine do I need?
What is RNA and how does the vaccine work?
RNA is a type of nucleic acid that SARS-CoV-2 uses to carry its genetic information. It is a blueprint to produce proteins that form the virus particle. Both of the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines contain a small piece of SARS-CoV-2 RNA encased in a lipid particle. When injected into the body, these particles are taken up by immune cells, the viral spike protein is produced, and our immune system produces antibodies and other immune cells that specifically recognize it. This process mirrors exactly what happens when the virus infects our body, but the vaccine cannot cause infection as it does not contain the actual virus. A second booster vaccine makes the immune response even stronger. If we are exposed to the virus, our immune system now has all the tools needed to rapidly clear it.
What is coronavirus (COVID-19)?
There is a new type of Coronavirus (COVID-19) causing an ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness that originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
The Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, typically causing respiratory illness in people. COVID-19 symptoms may range from mild to severe illness and death. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure and include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Loss of taste or smell
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- Through contact with contaminated surfaces.
For the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 outbreak, including travel restrictions, please visit the following websites:
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- Pennsylvania Department of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Who is most at risk for becoming seriously ill?
COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based upon available information to date, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:
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People aged 65 years and older
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People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
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Other high-risk conditions could include:
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People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
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People with diabetes
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People who have serious heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies and pulmonary hypertension
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People with chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis
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People who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment
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People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
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People of any age with severe obesity
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People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis
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People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk
What does "flattening the curve" mean?
"Flattening the curve" is when preventive measures are put into place to slow or stop the number of new cases during an outbreak like COVID-19. Based on experiences from other countries and past epidemics, preventive measures such as social distancing and quarantines help to accomplish this goal.
Does Mount Nittany Health have a COVID test collection site?
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Mount Nittany Health, in collaboration with Penn State Health, established a test collection site at Mount Nittany Medical Center. This site is only used by primary care patients from either health system who have received an appointment at the collection site by their primary care provider.
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A test collection site at Mount Nittany Health – Mifflin County. The site is available exclusively for Mount Nittany Physician Group (MNPG) primary care patients.
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A test collection site at Mount Nittany Health - Boalsburg. The site is available exclusively for MNPG primary care patients.
What are symptoms & warning signs of coronavirus?
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Cough -
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing -
Fever -
Loss of taste or smell -
Chills -
Repeated shaking with chills -
Muscle pain -
Headache -
Sore throat
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Upon arrival, please wear a protective mask.
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If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include:
-Trouble breathing
-Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
-New confusion
-Inability to wake or stay awake
-Bluish lips or face
Do you have visitor restrictions?
Are we screening people before they enter Mount Nittany Health facilities?
How do I practice safe hand hygiene?
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Moisten your hands with warm, running water. -
Apply enough soap to produce lather. -
Vigorously rub all hand surfaces together for a minimum of 20 seconds. -
Rinse hands under warm, running water. -
Dry hands thoroughly using paper towels. -
Use a paper to turn off the faucet.
How do I practice everyday precautions?
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you do not have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol. Did you know? Singing or humming two rounds of “Happy Birthday” equals 20 seconds.
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue away
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
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Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
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Stay home if you are sick
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick
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Practice social distancing
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Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others. Learn how to properly wear and take care of cloth face covers.
What is community spread?
What is community mitigation?
What causes coronavirus (COVID-19)?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:
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Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
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Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
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Through a person’s contact with contaminated surfaces and then touching his or her own mouth, nose, or possibly eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?
What is social distancing?
Social distancing is when you put space between yourself and others. This can help slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Stay home as much as you can
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Avoid public spaces
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Keep at least 6 feet between you and others if you must go out
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Don't attend or host large gatherings
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Avoid using mass transit
Do you test for COVID-19 at Mount Nittany Health?
Are there any side effects to the COVID-19 vaccine?
The most common side effect is a sore arm for 24 to 48 hours. Some people can develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes, generalized muscle pain or fatigue. These side effects are generally mild and not unexpected. They indicate that our immune system is activated.
Is the vaccine safe?
Vaccines are safe and effective and the best way to protect you and those around you from serious illnesses. Severe allergic reactions are rare:
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Pfizer first dose: 11.1 cases per one million doses reported severe allergic (anaphylactic) reactions (CDC).
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Moderna first dose: 1 of more than 224,000 reported severe allergic (anaphylactic) reactions (CDC).
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CDC plans to release more information as it becomes available.
Can kids get the vaccine?
Do I need to wear a mask or respirator in public?
What is herd immunity and how does it relate to the vaccine?
Herd immunity refers to how many people in the population need to be immune to the virus to prevent it from being spread. The more contagious the virus, the more people need to have immunity to prevent transmission. For COVID-19, 50 to 70 percent of the population needs to have immunity to achieve herd immunity. This number may change as we learn more about the virus, and it may be higher if more contagious strains emerge, such as the U.K. variant, now beginning to appear throughout the United States.
Some people have proposed letting COVID-19 run its course to achieve herd immunity, but this could result in more than two million deaths in the U.S. The only safe and effective way to achieve herd immunity is through vaccination, and we need to vaccinate the majority of the population to be successful.
I have a confirmed COVID-19 vaccine appointment. What do I need to bring with me?
You will need to bring proof of Pennsylvania residency or employment such as:
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Pennsylvania driver’s license or Pennsylvania identification card
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Utility bill with your name and address
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Employer identification or badge
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Business card
A signed vaccination agreement form.
A mask. You are required to wear a mask to the vaccine site. If you will not wear a mask, then you will not be permitted to enter the site and will lose your vaccine appointment slot.
Children and other visitors are not allowed. One caregiver may accompany you if needed.
Mount Nittany Health currently only offers vaccine appointments at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to check in and turn in your vaccination agreement form and proof of residency or employment in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, be prepared to stay for 15 minutes after vaccination for observation.ther visitors are not allowed.
How long will it take to distribute the vaccine?
We’ll administer the COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as we can. We are only opening appointments if and when we can confirm vaccine supplies will be made available to us from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH).
We are administering the vaccine as outlined in the DOH phased plans.
Why don’t you make more vaccine appointments available?
Mount Nittany Health will open COVID-19 vaccine appointments as the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) provides us with vaccine.
We are only opening appointments if and when we can confirm vaccine supplies will be made available to us from the DOH. This ensures that no scheduled patient is left without a vaccine.
Demand for the vaccine exceeds the available supply.
When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
We are distributing vaccines according to the eligibility guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Health
How can I confirm that I am successfully registered for the COVID-19 vaccine?
If you have successfully registered, you will see a confirmation page.
In addition, within minutes, you will receive a confirmation email from Mount Nittany Health and a text message to the mobile number provided. A mobile number is not required to sign-up for the waitlist.
Please be sure to look in your spam or junk folders if you do not see a confirmation email in your inbox.
What information will I need to provide to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine?
You will need to provide your:
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First and Last name -
Date of birth -
Last four digits of Social Security Number -
Birth sex -
Race -
Ethnicity -
Phone number -
Mobile number - please take special care to key in the mobile number correctly to ensure that you receive the confirmation text. -
Address -
Email address - please take special care to key in your email address correctly to ensure that you receive the confirmation email.
At the end of the waitlist registration process, you will see a screen that indicates you have successfully registered for the COVID-19 vaccine waitlist.
I successfully registered for the COVID-19 vaccine. How will I know that I have a vaccine appointment?
When vaccine supply is available, Mount Nittany Health will schedule vaccine appointments from the waitlist.
When it is your turn, we will call, email and text you to notify you of the date and time for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Please keep your vaccine appointment. It is important that you receive both doses of the vaccine for it to be most effective.
I don't have a computer. How can I register for COVID-19 vaccine at Mount Nittany Health?
If you're unable to register online for the COVID-19 vaccine at mountnittany.org/coronavirus, you can call our COVID vaccine phone line 814.234.7606, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, where someone will help add you to the waitlist. Due to high call volumes, you may experience longer than normal wait times or a busy signal.
The fastest way for eligible community members to sign up for the COVID vaccine is online at mountnittany.org/coronavirus.
I scheduled a vaccine appointment with another provider. How can I remove myself from the Mount Nittany Health vaccine appointments?
If you schedule an appointment elsewhere before being scheduled with Mount Nittany Health, please remove yourself from our registation list by clicking "View Your Status" in your confirmation email. On the next screen, please select "Remove me from the waitlist." This is the recommended method to remove yourself from the waitlist.
Is Mount Nittany Health vaccinating children age 16 or older?
Mount Nittany Health is administering the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone who meets the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s eligibility criteria.
Currently, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine approved for children age 16 and older. If an individual is 16 years of age or older and meets the eligibility criteria, Mount Nittany Health will schedule a vaccine appointment.
A parent/guardian must be present at the time of the vaccine being administered to a minor.
The FDA has not approved vaccines for children younger than 16 at this time.