Minnesota leaders unveiled more details about the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plans as more doses of vaccine are expected to become available in the coming weeks.
Gov. Tim Walz provided the clearest roadmap yet for when most Minnesotans can expect to be come eligible to receive vaccines. People with serious pre-existing health conditions that put them at highest-risk of serious or fatal COVID-19 infections are in the state’s next priority group.
Minnesota is currently prioritizing health workers, educators, child care providers, seniors and people living or working in long-term care. More than 1.1 million doses have been administered and more than 720,000 people have gotten at least one dose.
“We set out to protect the most vulnerable Minnesotans, and we are honoring that commitment,” Walz said, noting that seniors account for 89 percent of the state’s COVID-19 deaths. “These vaccines work — we can see that in the plummeting cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in long-term care facilities around our state.”
The Democratic governor faced criticism from Republican lawmakers after he hinted Tuesday that the state was getting closer to opening up vaccine eligibility. Walz reiterated Thursday that the state planned to offer at least 70 percent of seniors a chance to get a shot before moving on to other groups — that could be accomplished as soon as the end of March.
State Sen. Karin Housley, R-St. Mary’s Point, who chairs the Senate aging and long-term care committee, called Thursday’s announcement a “step in the right direction,” but said many seniors remain confused about the process.
“I’ve heard from seniors across the state who have been confused by this constantly changing information,” Housley said. “We need to vaccinate our seniors, but we also need to make sure these confusing messages are not sustained in future vaccination plans.”
WHAT’S CHANGING?
Not much is changing in the short-term. The state will still prioritize seniors and others in its top priority group.
What health officials don’t want to risk is slowing down the pace of vaccination because some people are hesitant to get the shot. After a majority of seniors have had a chance to get vaccinated state officials plan to start opening it up to other vulnerable groups.
Next in line are people with serious pre-existing conditions that put them at highest-risk for serious and fatal COVID-19 cases. Those conditions include: active cancer treatments, sickle cell disease, Down Syndrome and oxygen-dependent chronic lung and heart conditions.
Workers in food processing plants and other high-risk essential workers will also be part of the next group.
By late spring, state leaders hope to be vaccinating residents with less risky pre-existing conditions, other frontline workers and people 50 and older who live in multi-generational housing.
Middle-aged residents without pre-existing conditions and younger people at high-risk for serious coronavirus cases because they have health problems will come next. As will other frontline workers.
By summer, the vaccine is expected to be widely available to the general public.
“General public” is a bit of a misnomer because it only includes about 300,000 people. Walz says most Minnesota adults will fall into one of the earlier categories because they have pre-existing health conditions or are essential workers.
WHY IS THIS SO SLOW?
The tentative timeline Walz detailed Thursday is how quickly vaccination would move if nothing changes. It assumes the state continues to receive fewer than 100,000 first doses of vaccine each week.
Walz said it was a conservative estimate and Minnesota is likely to get more and more vaccine in the coming weeks and months.
Gov. Walz was quick to point out Thursday that Minnesota started administering vaccines a little more than 50 days ago. Since the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were given emergency authorization in December, Minnesota has inoculated many of its most vulnerable residents.
While the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses — spaced three to four weeks apart — for the best immune system response.
The U.S. is now on the cusp of approving another vaccine formula from Johnson & Johnson that is shelf stable and only requires one dose. The federal government is also working to help ramp up production and distribution of the other approved vaccines.
Andrea Walsh, CEO of HealthPartners, said providers around the state are ready to do more vaccinations. “We are ready as a state to take as much vaccine as we can get,” Walsh said.
HOW WILL I KNOW IT’S MY TURN?
State officials continue to encourage residents to sign up with the new vaccine connector tool that was launched last week. It can be found at mn.gov/vaccineconnector or by calling 1-800-657-3504.
The tool is designed to help residents understand when it is their turn and where they can go to get vaccinated. Most residents will likely get their shots at their health care provider, pharmacy or a nearby clinic.
The tool is also designed to help the state distribute vaccine more equitably to communities of color and other residents who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has taken a tremendous toll, but the progress we are making against it is very encouraging,” Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. “To protect and build on this progress, it is important to get vaccinated when you have the opportunity.”
IS THIS EVER GOING TO END?
State health officials expressed more optimism Thursday about the shape of Minnesota’s pandemic than they have in a while. They noted that new cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all dropped dramatically.
There’s still a lot of anxiety around emerging variants of the coronavirus that are more contagious, but its clear that health officials see light at the end of the tunnel.
“This is the time to dig deep and finish this thing,” Walz said, adding that he hoped to be able to eventually do things like attend a baseball game and eat a corndog at the State Fair. “We’re going to roll up our sleeves and whip this thing.”
