COVID-19
Resources for Physicians
COVID-19 vaccine resource center
- Clinical vaccine guidance compiling information from FDA, CDC and other health organizations.
COVID-19 vaccine booster shots
Talking points for health care leaders to encourage vaccine confidence
Stepping up to the plate to counter vaccine hesitancy
- A conversation can help reluctant patients come around to the vaccine
What physicians need to know - webinars
SDSMA Urges All Eligible South Dakotans to Get Vaccinated
With the latest surge in COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant, the SDSMA encourages unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and those who are eligible for a booster to get one as soon as possible.
Based on science and data, it's clear that vaccinated keeps people out of the hospital and saves lives. That's true for everyone in our communities -- and especially true for the many patients with serious or complex diseases who seek care at our clinics and hospitals every day.
The large majority of new COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are people who aren't vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccination offers the greatest protection against becoming infected with the virus, including the Omicron and Delta variants, and from developing severe illness. More people need to get vaccinated to prevent surges in new infections.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The vaccine protects against the Omicron and Delta variants. Everyone age 5 and older is eligible to get vaccinated. Doctors recommend getting vaccinated as soon as possible.Vaccines train our immune system to recognize the COVID-19 virus and make cells to fight the virus. COVID-19 vaccines being used in the U.S. meet the Food and Drug Administration's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness. Millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the U.S. since December 2020, and billions worldwide. Today's success with the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 comes from decades of research that came before it.
Many people who are considered "recovered" from COVID-19 still deal with "long-COVID," or post-COVID conditions that linger for weeks or months beyond infection, and in some people, more than a year. These conditions can include difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, tiredness and fatigue, headaches, chest or stomach pain. Other lasting long-COVID effects can negatively impact a person’s heart, lung, kidney, skin and brain functions. Unvaccinated people are at risk of contracting the virus and dealing with these potential complications of long COVID.
A 'breakthrough' case means a vaccinated person tested positive for the virus. It's important to remember that the rate of severe breakthrough illness is low. Those who are vaccinated have a dramatically lower risk of hospitalization or severe illness.
Vaccinated people can spread the virus if they get a breakthrough infection, but the odds of them getting sick in the first place is far lower than those who are unvaccinated. Even in the circumstance that a vaccinated person becomes infected with the virus, your chance of getting severely ill is extremely low.
- Staying home when sick, getting tested, ventilation and masking are all important layers of prevention.
It is normal to have questions and we urge people to talk with their doctor. Find a vaccine near you: Search http://vaccines.gov 
Text your ZIP code to 438829 Call 1-800-232-0233