COVID-19
COVID-19 VACCINE PILOT PROGRAM
In the wake of the release COVID-19 vaccine, Minnesota is pushing a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program. This pilot program is beginning today, January 19th, 2021 at 12 p.m. During Gov. Tim Walz's press conference yesterday, he explained who would benefit from this vaccine pilot program and how this will affect Minnesotans at large. Minnesota will open nine pilot sites by partnering with school districts and public health. Gov. Walz has called on the federal governement to provide more vaccines because there has not been an increase in vaccines. Until the federal government releases more vaccines, these sites will provide COVID-19 vaccines to different groups in our community.
Eligibility:
The primary groups that are eligible to make an appointment are adults above the age of 65, prekindergarten through high school educators, and child care workers.
Cities that will have a pilot testing site:
- Anoka
- Brooklyn Center
- Fergus Falls
- Marshall
- Mountain Iron
- North Mankato
- Rochester
- St. Cloud
- Thief River Falls.
How to make an appointment:
If you are above 65 years of age and want to schedule an appointment please call 612-426-7230 or toll-free at 833-431-2053. You must have an appointment to be seen and if there is a spot open, it will be filled with those who have made appointments. For educators, school staff, and child care workers, you must directly work with your school or program in order to get signed up for vaccination. Because there is a limited supply of vaccines, appointments are not open to everyone. School districts and charter schools will decide who receives the vaccine.
What to expect at the appointment:
You must expect to wait for 15 minutes after your vaccine to be observed and 30 minutes if you have allergies. Insurance will not be asked since the test is being given without a cost. If you are an educator or child care worker you must bring the same employee ID or license that was used to make the appointment. It is also important that you must not come more than 15 minutes to the appointment to ensure social distancing.
Click this link to know what to expect after getting the vaccine: What To Expect After Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine
Please know that there is a very limited supply so please be patient as the federal government provides Minnesota with more vaccines. The health workers and long-term residents can continue to receive COVID-19 vaccines through their workplaces and facilities. It is important that Minnesotans keep COVID guidelines and help flatten the curve by taking control of their personal responsibility.
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