5-19 COVID-19 Update: State Makes Efforts to Get More Minnesotans Vaccinated

5-19 COVID-19 Update: More Vaccination Clinics Held for Teens, State Tries to Get More Minnesotans to Roll Up Their Sleeves

The Minnesota Department of Health held a 2:30 p.m. briefing Wednesday to provide the latest public health information regarding variants of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, as well as on the state’s vaccination efforts.

You can watch the full briefing here.

Latest on COVID-19 Vaccines

• 49.4% of the state’s population have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This percentage has stagnated over past couple weeks.
• 42.6% of Minnesotans are considered fully vaccinated having completed the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen or received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot.
• Children ages 12 to 15 can now receive the Pfizer vaccine, in addition to those 16 and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines remain ages 18 and up.
• The state is hosting a vaccination clinic this weekend at the Mall of America. Families with 12 to 15-year-olds will be prioritized.
• A one-and-done Johnson & Johnson vaccination clinic will be held at the State Fairgrounds for the next two weeks (May 26-June 8). It’s open to anyone over the age of 18.

Latest on COVID-19 Cases

• Minnesota’s 7-day rolling average case rate is at 4.9%, falling below the state’s 5% “caution” threshold.
• The 4.9% rate is lowest since March 19
• The number of new COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday was 658, the lowest figure reported on a Wednesday this year. The total number of Minnesota cases since the pandemic started is 596,186.
• The number of new COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday was 15. Of those deaths 10 lived at a private residence, the others resided in assisted living or long-term care facility. The total number of deaths in Minnesota since pandemic began is 7,325
• Currently have 2,249 “breakthrough” case infections in Minnesota. These are COVID-19 cases involving people who are fully vaccinated. MDH has seen more cases in women. The percentage of breakthroughs is .001%. Ehresmann says it may be possible some of the cases are those who became exposed to virus before receiving vaccine dose.

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• The rate of new hospitalizations continues to decline. It’s at 9.2 admissions daily per 100,000 people. The state’s “high-risk” threshold is 10 admissions per day per 100,000.
• Progress now measured in smaller increments, one-tenths of 1%. Vaccinations are going up, however.  “Just trying to get the vaccine extremely convenient for people,” said Malcolm.
• MDH still aiming for 70% vaccination rate of those ages 16-plus by July 1.

MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann:

• “It’s never been easier to get the vaccine,” said Ehresmann. “We still have many Minnesotans who are not vaccinated.”

State Epidemiologist & Medical Director, Ruth Lynfield

• Recommends people at high-risk for COVID-19 to consider monoclonal antibody therapies.
• Clinical studies have found a 70% decrease in hospitalization for those at high-risk who received monoclonal antibody infusions. FDA has approved two monoclonal antibody treatments.
• Drug is supplied for free by federal government. There may be a cost for infusion depending on insurance.
• More than 70% of SARS-CoV-2 cases in Minnesota attributed to the B.1.1.7 variant, says Lynfield.

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