Governor Walz: First Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Doses Have Arrived in Minnesota
On Wednesday, Governor Walz announced that the first Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived in Minnesota and met one of the first shipments to arrive in the state. Immunizations began shortly after doses arrived to Minnesota providers.
“This is an exciting development. We now have three vaccines available that are safe and highly effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death,” said Governor Walz. “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help our state quickly provide immunity and get us one step closer to ending this pandemic. We know we need broad community protection before we can get back to the normal, enjoyable parts of life we have missed, and the way we get there is by getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. Everyone who has the opportunity to get this shot should take it.”
Governor Tim Walz to Deliver State of the State Address
Governor Tim Walz today announced he will deliver his third State of the State address on Sunday, March 21, 2021, beginning at 6:00pm. The address will be delivered live from the Governor’s former social studies classroom at Mankato West High School, where he taught for more than 20 years. It will be streamed live on the Governor’s YouTube page here.
“Over the past year, Minnesotans have made extraordinary sacrifices to save lives and change the course of this pandemic,” said Governor Walz. “I look forward to the opportunity to speak directly to Minnesotans and young people across the state as we look toward brighter days ahead.”
Walz, Flanagan Announce Groundbreaking Partnership Between State of Minnesota, Health Care Systems on Race and Ethnicity Data Collection
State announces additional, targeted strategies to promote equity in vaccination
Today, the Walz-Flanagan Administration announced publication of vaccination data by race and ethnicity made possible through the groundbreaking partnership between the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Electronic Health Record (EHR) Consortium. This unique and innovative collaboration between public health and health systems is the first statewide effort of its kind in the United States.
The data – published on the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard – will inform additional, targeted strategies to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccine to Minnesotans of all races and ethnicities, including communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 as a result of systemic inequities. Race and ethnicity data will be published and updated weekly on the State of Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard.
State Partners with Minnesota Vikings to Administer Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
As part of the State of Minnesota’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program, Governor Walz announced the state is partnering with the Minnesota Vikings on a new community vaccination event to launch this week at Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) Performance Center in Eagan. Approximately 13,400 Johnson & Johnson doses will be administered at TCO Performance Center to health care workers and adults 65 years of age or older beginning this week. The Governor visited the site on Friday.
“This partnership with the Minnesota Vikings helps us move the ball down the field in the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor Tim Walz. “This one-and-done vaccine is safe, highly effective, and helps us more quickly provide immunity to Minnesotans including to our courageous health care providers and our older neighbors.”
Minnesota Ranks First in the Nation for Children Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
A recently published study from Save the Children finds that over the last four months of 2020, Minnesota consistently ranked first in the nation for children amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Using four months of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, the Save the Children’s COVID Child Protection Ranking identifies where children have been most and least protected during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that Minnesota has continually ranked first in protecting children from hunger, learning loss, and financial stress.
“There is no more important investment than in our children,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Supporting our littlest Minnesotans and their families with a focus on equity has been foundational to our COVID-19 response and remains our top priority.”
Governor Walz Announces COVID-19 Community Vaccination Site at Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Governor Walz today announced a new community vaccination site to launch this week at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul. The large-scale, permanent site will be the fifth of its kind, joining sites in Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester and Bloomington
Last month, Governor Walz announced the launch of the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, a tool that helps all Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Minnesotans can sign up at mn.gov/vaccineconnector. Minnesotans unable to sign up online or who require translation assistance can call 833-431-2053 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to sign up over the phone.
Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector: New Tool to Connect All Minnesotans to COVID-19 Vaccines
The Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector is a tool that helps all Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The Vaccine Connector is the next step of the state’s vaccination strategy to meet Minnesotans where they are and connect them to vaccine opportunities, no matter where they live or their personal circumstances.
Minnesotans who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, regardless of their current vaccine eligibility status. There will be no cost and no restricted time period for signing up.
Minnesotans can sign up at mn.gov/vaccineconnector. Minnesotans unable to sign up online can call 833-431-2053 for assistance signing up over the phone. Translation is available by phone in all languages. Minnesotans can call the translation hotline at 833-431-2053 for assistance signing up over the phone.