Gov. Tim Walz said nine community vaccination sites will be set up this week to get COVID shots to more Minnesotans.
ST PAUL, Minn. — As the Minnesota governor continues to call for more vaccine doses from the federal government, he is announcing a new pilot program for distribution across the state.
Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday that the state government will partner with local public health and school districts to create several community vaccination sites.
Vaccination sites will serve adults 65 years old and up, and prekindergarten through 12th grade teachers, school staff and child care workers. Walz said in a news release Monday that the pilot program will be the foundation for “mass vaccination clinics” in Minnesota once the vaccine supply from the federal government increases.
The sites will launch this week with a “small number of doses for eligible Minnesotans.”
Anyone in one of those eligible groups can schedule an appointment at mn.gov/vaccine beginning at noon, Tuesday, Jan. 19. Appointments will start on Thursday, Jan. 21. Walz warned that the demand will outstrip the supply.
Walz said this effort is to “bridge (the) gap” until more vaccine doses are available from the federal government. He asked Minnesotans who are healthy with no risk factors to consider holding back and letting others take advantage of the limited doses.
“It will be an orderly process through either calling or using a website,” Walz said. Health officials said more information — including how eligible Minnesotans can request appointments — will be available on MDH’s website in the coming days.
Walz cautioned that Minnesota has a limited number of vaccines, so not everyone eligible for the pilot will be able to get vaccinated when they want.
Asked whether he was “worried” about the expansion causing frustration by raising Minnesotans’ hopes with such limited vaccination appointments, Walz said he was.
“This is going to be harder than going on Ticketmaster to get Bruce Springsteen tickets,” Walz said.
He said — despite the potential for frustration — Minnesota was planning to use online and phone appointment sign-ups to avoid long in-person lines. He cited a situation in Florida where seniors had lined up “at 3 a.m.” for a chance to be vaccinated, and said that’s what officials hope to avoid through the appointment process.
People who are now eligible may also get a vaccine through their health care provider, but officials emphasized that providers will reach out to their patients to let them know when they can make an appointment. Minnesotans are asked not to call their providers directly looking to get a vaccine.
“We just don’t have a large supply of vaccines to do that,” said MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm.
Whether going to a health care provider or a community vaccine site, appointments will be required. School employees will work directly with their districts or schools to get an appointment, and child care programs will be randomly selected. School vaccine allotments will be based on workforce proportion in their region, according to Walz’s office.
Walz said while this announcement does expand the priority populations eligible for a vaccine right now, more details on Phase 1b are “dependent on decisions to be made by the federal government” and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Health care workers, long-term care staff and residents can still get vaccines through their workplaces, care facilities or local public health agencies.
Health officials were asked whether they expect a negative response to the program from other groups who are still waiting for their vaccinations, like workers in dentists’ offices.
“No matter what we do, people will be and are angry,” said MDH Infectious Diseases Director Kris Ehresmann. She and Walz reiterated that Minnesota’s vaccination efforts are limited by the federal government’s distribution of doses.
Minnesota still has a “very limited” supply of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Walz administration. The governor said on Friday that the federal government has “botched” the rollout. He signed a letter with other governors last week urging the federal government to buy as many doses as possible.
President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office Wednesday, has said he has a goal of administering 100 million vaccines by his 100th day in office.
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In Monday’s news release, Walz asked Minnesotans to be patient.
“We are building for the future and doing what we can to get more shots to Minnesotans right now,” Walz said in a statement. “By beginning to serve those age 65 and older, educators and child care workers, we are immunizing for impact. It’s a step in the right direction on this long road to recovery. The federal government has been giving mixed messages on vaccine availability and guidance, and we need them to step up and get more vaccine to the state. When they do, we will be ready. The end of this pandemic is closer today than it was yesterday.”
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