Credit: New York National Guard via Flickr
Progress in vaccination in Minnesota is about to accelerate significantly, as Governor Tim Walz said on Friday that the state will soon be receiving “more” 350,000 doses a week from the federal government.
“We are really accelerating,” Walz told Dave Lee on Radio WCCO. “The state is receiving about 150,000 doses a week now, but on the 29th of this month there will be more than 350,000 – the White House informed the governors last week.”
To put it in context, an increase of 350,000 vaccines per week would basically double the 172,390 doses Minnesota received this week, which would speed up Minnesota’s vaccination rate.
On March 16, approximately 1.3 million Minnesota residents received at least one dose of the vaccine, with an additional 764,000 people completing the vaccination series. That is a total of just over 2 million Minnesota residents who have received some level of vaccine.
This leaves approximately 3.6 million Minnesotans unvaccinated. At a rate of 350,000 doses per week, these 3.6 million Minnesota residents could receive their first dose in the next two and a half months.
Minnesota achieved its goal of vaccinating 70% of residents aged 65 and over about three weeks ahead of schedule, prompting the state last week to open the vaccine’s eligibility for an additional 1.8 million Minnesota residents who are in Phase 1B , Tiers 2 and 3 of the state’s vaccination plan.
Phase 1B, Level 2:
- Minnesotans with specific underlying health conditions: sickle cell disease, Down syndrome, those being treated for cancer or immunocompromised by organ transplantation, chronic oxygen-dependent lung and heart disease (COPD and CHF)
- Food processing factory workers
- Minnesotans with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at greater risk for serious diseases
Phase 1B, Level 3:
- People aged 45 to 64 with one or more specific underlying medical conditions (sickle cell disease, Down syndrome or chronic oxygen-dependent lung or heart disease, people who are undergoing active cancer or immunocompromised by organ transplantation, active cancer, illness chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, obesity and pregnancy)
- Persons aged 16 to 44 years with two or more specific underlying medical conditions (sickle cell disease, Down syndrome or chronic oxygen-dependent lung or heart disease, people undergoing active cancer or immunocompromised by organ transplantation, active cancer, chronic kidney disease , COPD, diabetes, obesity and pregnancy)
- People aged 50 or over who live in multi-generation homes
- Other essential frontline workers, including agricultural, airport, additional day-care workers not previously eligible, correctional institutions, first responders, food production, food retail (grocery workers and convenience store), food service (including employees bars and restaurants), judicial system workers, manufacturing, public health workers, public transport, postal workers
Walz indicated during the Friday interview that the state could move on to the next phase of the vaccination strategy.
“I think we are ready to place the next group,” he said. That would mean people aged 16 and over with underlying health problems and everyone aged 50-64, regardless of health conditions.
Meanwhile, Walz remains in quarantine after a possible exposure to a COVID-positive employee.
“I have some grumpy teenagers now, but it’s okay,” Walz joked about being quarantined. “I still have a negative test for this.”
In the same interview, Walz said he is currently working as a jury in Ramsey County, saying that he has applied and making his daily visit mandatory.
He also said that Minnesota is likely to postpone the state tax filing deadline until May 17, which will coincide with the now extended federal tax deadline.
“We are having this discussion,” said Walz. “I think it makes sense. You try to comply with federal law when you can.”