Credit: New York National Guard via Flickr
Vaccination progress in Minnesota is about to accelerate significantly, as Governor Tim Walz said Friday that the state will soon be getting “more” 350,000 doses per week from the federal government.
“We are really speeding up,” Walz told Dave Lee on WCCO Radio. “The state is getting about 150,000 doses a week now, but by the 29th of this month we’ll have over 350,000 – the White House briefed the governors last week.”
For context, a boost to 350,000 shots per week would essentially be double the 172,390 doses Minnesota received this week, accelerating the pace of Minnesota’s vaccination.
As of March 16, about 1.3 million Minnesota soldiers have had at least one dose of the vaccine, while an additional 764,000 people have completed the vaccine series. That’s a total of just over 2 million minnesotans who have received a certain level of vaccination.
That leaves about 3.6 million minnesotans unvaccinated. At a rate of 350,000 shots per week, those 3.6 million minnesotans could get their first shot sometime in the next two and a half months.
Minnesota reached its goal of vaccinating 70% of residents 65 and older about three weeks earlier than expected, leading the state last week to be eligible for the vaccine for 1.8 million more Minnesota soldiers who entered are in phase 1B, levels 2 and 3 of the state’s vaccination plan.
Phase 1B, level 2
- Minnesota with specific underlying health conditions: sickle cell disease, Down syndrome, cancer patients or immunocompromised by organ transplant, oxygen-dependent chronic lung and heart disease (COPD and CHF)
- Workers in the food processing plant
- Minnesota with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of serious illness
Phase 1B, level 3
- People 45-64 with one or more specific underlying medical conditions (sickle cell disease, Down syndrome or oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart disease, people undergoing active cancer treatment or immunocompromised by organ transplant, active cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, obesity and pregnancy)
- People 16-44 with two or more specific underlying medical conditions (sickle cell disease, Down syndrome or oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart disease, people undergoing active cancer treatment or immunocompromised by organ transplant, active cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, obesity and pregnancy)
- People aged 50 and older living in multi-generation homes
- Other essential frontline workers, including farmers, airport workers, additional childcare workers who were previously ineligible, correctional institutions, first responders, food production, food retail (grocery and convenience store workers), food service (including bar and restaurant workers), judicial workers, manufacturing, public health workers, public transport, postal workers
Walz indicated during Friday’s interview that the state could move to the next phase of its vaccination strategy.
“I think we’re almost ready to deploy the next group,” he said. That would mean people 16 years and old with underlying health problems, and anyone aged 50-64, regardless of health conditions.
Meanwhile, Walz remains in quarantine after a possible exposure to a COVID-positive employee.
“I’m with some grumpy teens now, but it’s fine,” Walz joked about being in quarantine. “I’m still testing negative for it.”
In the same interview, Walz said he currently has jury duty in Ramsey County, and says he has applied and has his required daily dial-up call.
He also said it’s likely Minnesota will extend the state tax filing deadline to May 17, which is in line with the now-extended federal tax deadline.
“We have that discussion,” said Walz. ‘I think that makes sense. You try to comply with federal law as much as possible. ‘