Walz expands vaccine eligibility for Minnesotans 16 and older

Updated: 11h55

These are news that hundreds of thousands of Minnesota residents are waiting for.

All Minnesota residents aged 16 and over will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting next Tuesday, March 30. It is a major step forward in the state’s vaccination strategy.

“It’s a great day, Minnesota,” Governor Tim Walz said on Friday when he formally announced the expansion of eligibility.

“We are here to end this pandemic,” said Walz. “Today is one of the days when we can start making the big leap forward.”

Walz described the details of the new plan in a speech and press conference.

He said a “dramatic increase” in vaccine supplies from the federal government is expected in April. “They are in the pipeline and they are coming, and we will see that from next week.”

Walz emphasized that the expansion does not mean that everyone will receive a vaccine in the next week – but “it means that you are on the line”. He said there was sufficient confidence in the vaccine supply and the state’s distribution system to justify the dramatic expansion.

“Families – you can go together and vaccinate everyone. … There are no barriers, there is no cost, ”said Walz. “This is how we break this pandemic. … Gun vaccines is how we beat this thing. “

Health commissioner Jan Malcolm said that the expansion will provide maximum flexibility to healthcare professionals and other vaccination sites, so that vaccines are taken as quickly as possible.

But the race continues between vaccinations and the spread of COVID variants in Minnesota. Walz emphasized the importance of continuing to wear masks and following other safety measures – as well as getting tested after possible exposure to the coronavirus.

“None of these things stop” as vaccinations continue, he said. “We have the most robust test system in the country – use it.”

With the infrastructure for testing and delivering a growing supply of vaccine, Walz said, “This is the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the time we’ve been waiting for.”

He called on Minnesota residents to talk to their families, friends and neighbors to encourage them to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

Vaccine implementation

At the moment, people with certain health conditions, as well as people whose age, jobs or living conditions make them more vulnerable to obtaining COVID-19, can be vaccinated.

The state’s initial deployment plan first included opening up to more people with underlying health problems – and more people in professions that put them at greater risk of acquiring and disseminating COVID-19.

But this new development goes beyond that timeline, which originally put the general public in line to be eligible for summer vaccinations.

State health officials on Thursday asked for patience with the expansion on the horizon. Eligibility, they warned, does not mean instant access – and the supply of vaccines still does not meet current demand.

State health leaders said on Thursday that, in early April, Minnesota should expect a significant jump in its current vaccine supply: about 500,000 doses in total, 200,000 of which will go to people who need a second injection, and the remaining 300,000 of which are for people who need their first shots.

The state is now scheduled to receive just over 300,000 doses in the next week, about half of which is for people who need their second injection.

Earlier this week, about 33 percent of Minnesota’s population of people aged 16 and older received at least one injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require a two-dose regimen, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one.

In addition, Walz’s office said in a statement late on Thursday that Minnesota will continue to offer guidance to health care providers who prioritize vaccinating the elderly, people with underlying health problems and people with jobs on the front lines. . The new expansion, state leaders said, offers providers more flexibility in their vaccination strategy.

So far, the state has vaccinated about 80% of people aged 65 and over, one of its first priority groups. State health officials said on Thursday they were nearing the end of a campaign to offer vaccine to everyone who lives and works in long-term care facilities.

Meanwhile, state health leaders said reaching out to hard-to-reach populations, including communities of color, is still a challenge – and a top priority. They said on Thursday that maintaining a focus on equitable access to the vaccine will continue to be a feature of their distribution plan.

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The data in these charts are based on the Minnesota Department of Health cumulative totals released daily at 11 am You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at Department of Health website.

Coronavirus is transmitted by respiratory droplets, coughing and sneezing, similarly to the spread of flu.