Minnesota Announces Vaccine Distribution Pilot Program

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Kari Everson

Minnesota is launching a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program, partnering with local public health and school districts, Governor Tim Walz announced on Monday. These sites will initially serve adults 65 years of age or older, as well as prekindergarten through grade 12 educators, school staff, and child care workers. The community vaccination pilot program will be the foundation for mass vaccination clinics in Minnesota communities once the federal government increases vaccine supply. The nine pilot sites will launch this week with a small number of doses for eligible Minnesotans.

Eligible Minnesotans will be able to schedule an appointment at one of the nine pilot sites launching around the state. However, as of Tuesday when scheduling opened, delays were reported as a result of the high volume of traffic, and all appointments were expected to be booked by Wednesday. Sites will begin offering vaccines on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week.

There are a very small number of doses and appointments available at these pilot sites. Minnesotans should not visit a healthcare provider or pilot site unless they have an appointment.

Healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff can still receive the vaccine through their workplace, care facility, or local public health.

This announcement should not affect your efforts to vaccinate all LTC staff and residents in priority group 1a. We have been assured that LTC will have enough vaccine available to complete vaccination of residents and workers. If you do get questions from community members seeking information about vaccination of those 65 years and older who do not live or work in your setting, you can direct them to contact your local public health officials. We anticipate guidance on Phase 1b in the coming days and will provide additional information as soon as it is available.

Pilot sites will open in the following communities:

• Anoka
• Brooklyn Center
• Fergus Falls
• Marshall
• Mountain Iron
• North Mankato
• Rochester
• St. Cloud
• Thief River Falls