Support community safety. Schedule your COVID vaccine appointment.

North Sunflower Medical Center has been a leader in the pandemic since its first days. Now we have a steady supply of vaccines, and we need you to join us in fighting the virus. The process is simple and safe.

Sunflower Rural Health Clinic Director Brooks Rizzo is the go-to person for answers on the virus and the two vaccines we have been offering. Many of you know her because she’s a trusted and experienced family nurse practitioner with decades of experience.

She says the process starts like this. Call 662-756-1631 or 662-756-4024 to schedule an appointment. Same-day and next-day appointments are available. Generally, it only takes about 30 minutes if you make an appointment first, compared to walk-up.

Patients should park in the pharmacy parking lot and walk up the ramp to our Vaccine Entrance. Patients complete two brief forms and a registered nurse will administer either the Moderna vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in your upper arm. Your nurse will give you a vaccination record card and advise you what side effects to watch for.

After the vaccination, patients are asked to wait 15 minutes to monitor for any immediate reaction. If a reaction occurs, we are prepared with Benadryl, an Epipen, and an Emergency Room Physician who is present in the Vaccine area. The patient will be given a return date for their second vaccine if they received a Moderna dose. Our team will also call the patient closer to that date with a reminder.

The Vaccine Team has administered 1,270 Covid vaccines to the public so far.

Rizzo started researching the vaccination data and FDA studies last year, and we are lucky to have an expert here to do that because it is complicated.

“I became a nurse practitioner because I was motivated to help my family and those dearest to me. Helping others brings me joy and the last thing I want to do is harm someone. So, I feel like those healthcare professionals are like me. They want to help protect their family and the nation so we can get back to normal, feel secure in our everyday life, and find joy and happiness,” she says.

Rizzo has been closely following the vaccinations’ effectiveness since December 2020, when NSMC employees were vaccinated. When the state opened eligibility to non-healthcare workers, the Vaccine Team was set up started giving Covid vaccines in January 2021.

During the first two months, Rizzo’s obstacle was the lack of vaccines being shipped to the clinic from the state health department. Now the clinic is getting steady shipments, and Rizzo says the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the most requested because patients only need one dose to be protected from the virus. People who receive Moderna return for a second shot. As of now, NSMC has more Moderna vaccines on hand. But you should call to discuss what’s best for you.

“Millions of Americans have already been vaccinated and I believe the number of Covid cases has decreased in our area because of the Covid vaccinations,” says Rizzo. “I believe the vaccine works and to date, there is little risk involved in taking the vaccine”.

Rizzo wants to share a little bit of what we’ve done to combat COVID-19. Last March, the Covid Tent Team was established.

“We were outside attending patients, swabbing them for Covid, and a provider was treating any symptoms. We were all happy to help patients and bring them peace of mind because we were dedicated to using protective equipment and disinfecting processes while providing necessary health services during the pandemic,” she says.

When the vaccines were approved by the FDA for emergency use in December 2020, “we transitioned into learning more about the vaccines, how they work, what side effects to look for, how to educate our patients, and ultimately set up the clinic as a vaccination site with the MS state department of health,” Rizzo says.

“I am so proud to be a part of North Sunflower Medical Center and to have a team that is dedicated, loyal, steadfast, and willing to roll with the changes to do what is right and what is best for our community. The Vaccine Team, Sunflower Rural Health Clinic, and North Sunflower Medical Center will continue to do what we do best-be there for our community in times of crisis or calm,” Rizzo says. “Take me to Ruleville!”