COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Process Adjusted, Brooklyn Center Site to Serve 65 and Older This Week
Governor Walz Directs Changes to COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
In an effort to curb frustration and make pre-registering for the COVID-19 vaccine easier, adults 65 and older now have a new way to sign up for community vaccination clinics.
The changes, announced Monday by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will give adults 65 and older a 24-hour window to pre-register for a randomized opportunity to receive the vaccine. The number of doses still remain very limited. Only about 8,000 doses of the vaccine will be available at the pilot community clinics this week, state health officials said.
“This is about having the infrastructure in place to be ready when the federal government finally begins to send us more vaccine,” Walz said in a statement to CCX News.
One of the test clinic sites is the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. The clinic sites are serving as test sites for potential mass vaccination efforts when vaccine is more readily available.
How the Updated Vaccine Registration Process Works
Last Tuesday, precisely at noon, when people tried to pre-register for the vaccine, computer systems quickly became overloaded and crashed. Some seniors ended up waiting for hours to learn whether their appointment indeed got booked. For others the process was futile and resulted in hours wasted. The new system will eliminate the first-come first-serve system.
Those age 65 and older will now have a 24-hour window of time beginning at 5 a.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. Wednesday to pre-register for an appointment. The website to pre-register is mn.gov/findmyvaccine.
If people are unable to register online, they may call 833-431-2053 to sign up. The call center will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Due to high demand, health officials encourage Minnesotans to make appointments online if at all possible. If the call center line is busy, they suggest to try calling again later. Everyone who is currently on the waitlist from the first week will be automatically pre-registered.
Those who are randomly selected to receive a vaccine this week will be notified on Wednesday by text, email, or phone with instructions on how to finalize their appointment. Appointments are required to receive a shot. Minnesotans without an appointment should not visit a community vaccination pilot clinic.
Vaccination held at Brooklyn Center site last week
Xcel Energy Center to Host COVID-19 Vaccination Event for Teachers, Child Care Providers
Meanwhile, Twin Cities teachers, school staff and child care providers will have an opportunity to receive among 15,000 Moderna available vaccine doses at a five-day event held at the Xcel Energy Center. The doses will be administered Thursday, Jan. 28, through Monday, Feb. 1. Schools are told to work directly with employees to secure an appointment.
Those educators and staff who received their first dose at the Brooklyn Center clinic will return to that clinic for their second dose. Because of the Xcel Energy Center event, the Brooklyn Center site and a new Blaine clinic site will serve only adults 65 and older this week.
Also see: 1-21 COVID-19 Update: As Students Return to Classrooms, Minnesota Implores More Testing
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