2-1 COVID-19 Update: Minnesota Announces Changes for Vaccine Distribution

2-1 COVID-19 Update: Minnesota Announces Changes for Vaccine Distribution

Also see: Governor Walz Tours COVID-19 Vaccination Site in Brooklyn Center

Also see: COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ: North Memorial Doctor Answers Common Questions

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a press briefing Monday at 12 p.m. to brief members of the media on the latest public health information regarding COVID-19.

You can watch the full briefing here.

Minnesota Department of Health Announces Changes to COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

New Vaccine Locator Map Tool Added to MDH website

• A total of more than 35,000 Minnesotans ages 65 and older will have access to vaccine doses this week. “Any one site is not likely to have a large supply of vaccinations,” said Malcolm.
• A majority of these doses will be administered at more than 100 clinics, hospitals and community sites across the state.
• The Minnesota Department of Health says most seniors should be getting their COVID-19 vaccine at doctors’ offices, clinics and pharmacies. (That’s a change from the initial mass vaccination sites like the one used last week in Brooklyn Center.)
• The Health Department has a new vaccine locator map to help people age 65-plus schedule appointments. Keep in mind the demand for the vaccine still greatly exceeds the supply.
• No registration for the state’s waitlist this week, but registration occurring through individual clinics
• People who previously registered through state website will learn late Tuesday or early Wednesday if they were randomly selected.

“We have long planned for most Minnesotans to get vaccinated in the places they are used to getting their health care – places like smaller clinics, local hospitals, and community pharmacies,” Governor Tim Walz said in a statement to CCX News. “But not everyone has a doctor or pharmacy they’re familiar with. That’s why we’ve built up a reliable network of different ways Minnesotans will be able to access the vaccine. After careful planning, we’re now activating that network to give Minnesotans options close to home.”

Two Community Vaccination Sites This Week

• Two state of Minnesota community vaccination sites will remain, one in Minneapolis and the other in Duluth (6,000 doses allotted for these sites). A third site in southern Minnesota is in the works.
  • Additional sites are likely in the future as vaccine supply allows
  • The 9 community test sites over past two weeks paved way for these semi-permanent sites. These 9 sites will still be used to deliver the second doses – so the same community site seniors received their first dose. These doses will be administered starting next week. (Pfizer vaccine administered 21 days after first dose)

Vaccine Doses Administered

• People with at least one dose of vaccine in MN: 441,922
• A total of 559,383 vaccines administered (counting first and second doses)

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• In Minnesota, total cases 462,528 (up 727 on testing volume 21,432 lab tests)
  • an additional 1,079 cases reported Saturday and 990 on Sunday
  • Of the 462,528 total cases,  447,420 (97% no longer require isolation)
• In Minnesota, total deaths 6,202 (up 2)
  • an additional 19 deaths reported Saturday and 13 on Sunday
• Current hospitalizations for COVID-19: 387.
  • Of those hospitalized, 92 in intensive care.
• 7-day case positivity rate now at 4.8% (this is below state’s threshold goal of 5%)
• Don’t have additional plans on where other mass vaccination sites might take place in the future

MDH Director of Infectious Disease Kris Ehresmann:

• About 918,000 people 65 and over in MN added in next phase, along with 250,000 educators and child care workers. (So a total of 1.1 million people added after Phase 1a., which is frontline health care workers and nursing home residents and staff)
• About 98,000 doses being distributed this week across Minnesota (Normally it’s about 60,000-65,000). This is the most so far.
  • This will help finish Phase 1a (Just over 50% of this week’s vaccine going to this tier)
  • 35% of doses going to health systems, pharmacies, and the two semi-permanent locations in Minneapolis and Duluth for ages 65 and older.
  • 11% of doses going to school teachers and early-childhood staff.
• “We ask for your patience,” said Ehresmann, noting still the low amount of vaccine doses available.

Note: Minnesota Department of Commerce Deputy Commissioner Anne O’Connor & MNIT Commissioner Tarek Tomes also on the call

Q&A Session and Notes:

• The FDA expected to approve Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine next week
  • The J&J vaccine expected to be available in late February or early March
  • This vaccine is 66% effective in preventing COVID-19, according to clinical trials.
  • However, the vaccine was 85% effective in preventing severe forms of the disease, which is considered very promising.
  • Goal of vaccines is to keep people from becoming severely ill and out of the hospital.
• Ehresmann: starting to see outbreaks associated with bars and restaurants that reopened following Governor’s mandated pause. Same with youth sports. Says it takes a while to identify these outbreaks. (In-person service at bars and restaurants resumed Jan. 11)
  • Most documented case data with sport of hockey, said Ehresmann.
• No formal announcement yet by MDH for launch of Phase 1b, but state is moving forward to begin these vaccinations.

MDH Recap on All the COVID-19 Vaccine Phases:

• Phase 1a: Frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. This phase is winding down and includes an estimated 500,000 people.
• Phase 1b: Frontline essential workers and adults 75 years and older. This phase will include a little more than a million people, according to health officials.
• Phase 1c: Adults between the ages of 65 and 74, people aged 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions, and other essential workers. Health officials have not yet estimated the number of people in this phase.
• Phase 2: When larger numbers of doses are available, any remaining Phase 1 recipients will be vaccinated, plus adults in communities that have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19.
• Phase 3: As the vaccine becomes widely available, anyone who wishes to be vaccinated will be able to do so.

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