Minnesota Announces Changes to Statewide Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines
Minnesota announced changes to the statewide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.
(VOC 9) – Minnesota officials announced several changes to the statewide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday, aimed at giving more people the vaccine.
Minnesota will have 35,000 doses of vaccine available to people 65 and older this week, including 9,425 doses at two new large-scale, permanent community vaccination centers in Minneapolis and Duluth, replacing the 10 in use last week, according to a press release from Gov. Tim Walz’s office. A third location in southern Minnesota will open next week.
MDH updates the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, shifts to clinics and pharmacies
The Minnesota Department of Health is making changes to the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The remainder of the doses go to more than 100 clinics, hospitals and health care providers statewide.
The goal of the new Minnesota vaccine rollout plan is to move away from the community vaccination sites and get more people in their communities vaccinated.
The new community vaccination sites in Minneapolis, Duluth, and southern Minnesota will serve people 65 and older. The Minneapolis location will also serve teachers and daycare workers.
The 10 sites that have been open in the past two weeks are only open for second doses, for people who received the first doses there.
How can I find a vaccine supplier near me?
Minnesota launched a new vaccine location map on Monday to help people find local vaccination options near where they live. Minnesota can use the map to find vaccine providers in their area and contact those providers directly to make an appointment to get the vaccine.
The locator map currently only provides information for seniors, but it will increase over time as more Minnesota qualifies for the vaccine, the press release said. The map can be found here.
What’s Happening to the COVID-19 Seniors Vaccine Lottery in Minnesota?
The 220,000 seniors who were put on the waiting list during last week’s lottery remain on the list to be randomly selected to receive the vaccine at one of the state’s new permanent vaccination sites in Minneapolis or Duluth. They are also eligible for a dose through their local healthcare provider.
Seniors traverse the lottery system to get COVID-19 vaccines in Minnesota
As the COVID-19 vaccination effort continues, some worry that a group of seniors will be left behind while vaccinations progress.
No new appointments are scheduled at the community’s 10 original vaccination clinics in Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mountain Iron, North Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul and Thief River Falls.
Minnesota who received their first dose at one of the state’s ten local vaccination pilot clinics last week or the week before will receive their second dose at the same location as previously scheduled. They don’t have to do anything else.
What about teachers and childcare workers?
Teachers and childcare workers will either be contacted directly or by their employers, who coordinate with local health departments, to schedule a vaccination appointment.
Teachers and childcare workers can take their photo at one of the following locations:
- State vaccination site in Minneapolis
- 35 local public health offices statewide
- Pharmacies in Brainerd, St. Cloud and Rochester