A COVID-19 Vaccine Milestone: Minnesota Hits One Million Doses
Minnesota health officials announced on Friday that the state has surpassed one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered.
“This is a milestone day,” said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “Every time a Minnesotan gets their shot, they are protecting themselves and moving our entire state closer to ending this pandemic.”
Walz says much more vaccine is needed from the federal government as the state races to get ahead of variants of the novel coronavirus. Those variants include the B.1.1.7 mutation first discovered in the United Kingdom. Health officials have said that variant spreads more easily and poses greater risk of severe illness.
Getting vaccine could prove even more problematic as crippling storms across the country this week could stall shipments.
“It’s definitely a significant disruption nationwide,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.
The state has a 7-day rolling average of about 30,000 doses administered a day. More than 700,000 Minnesotans, or 13 percent of the state’s population, have received at least one dose. About half (46%) are seniors.
Staff members and residents of Copperfield Hill senior living celebrate their first dose last month.
8 New Deaths Reported Friday
The state reported 1,001 new COVID-19 cases and eight new deaths on Friday. Of the eighth deaths, two were residents of long-term care settings. None of the deaths was in Hennepin County. Deaths and cases at long-term care facilities have decreased sharply as the state works to finish its “Phase 1a” vaccinations, the tier that includes front-line health care workers and residents of nursing homes.
Minnesota’s seven-day case positivity rate has fallen to 3.7%, the lowest since June 25.
Just yesterday, the state launched the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, an online tool to help Minnesotans determine when, where and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
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