Tag: pandemic

Minnesota health systems to identify at-risk patients for next round of COVID-19 shots

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More than 1.3 million Minnesotans will become eligible for shots in April. 

People with health conditions that make them susceptible to COVID-19 complications most likely will be contacted by their health care provider when it’s their turn to get the shot.

“We’ll use our electronic medical record as well the expertise of our clinicians to help identify patients,” said Dr. John Misa, interim chief medical officer for the Allina Health Group.

Once 70% of the state’s seniors are vaccinated, perhaps by the end of March, the state’s rollout plan calls for the medically vulnerable and essential workers to become the next priority groups. Continue reading.

Biden: US will have vaccine for all adults by end of May

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President Biden on Tuesday said that the United States will have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all American adults for the coronavirus by the end of May, crediting a “stepped-up process” under his administration.

Biden made the announcement while outlining a partnership between Merck and Johnson & Johnson to produce the latter’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine.

“We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May,” Biden said in remarks Tuesday afternoon at the White House. “When we came into office, the prior administration had contracted for not nearly enough vaccine to cover adults in America. We rectified that.” Continue reading.

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) COVID-19 Vaccine Update

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Hi Neighbors,

Two weeks ago, I sent you an email with information about Minnesota’s vaccine rollout. Thanks to your helpful feedback and response to that email, my team and I have added additional information and some updates since my last email. This information was compiled on March 3rd, 2021 and will change as more vaccines become available, so please check here for the latest information about COVID-19 vaccinations from the Minnesota Department of Health.

As you may know, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for a new, single-shot COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, February 27th, 2021. This is now the third vaccine to receive authorization in the US. You can read about the FDA’s process for review and authorization here. While I expect that this will further accelerate the timeline for vaccine distribution, as President Biden noted earlier this week, please read on to find more information about the current state of vaccine distribution in Minnesota:

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VACCINES FOR VETERANS

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is currently offering and administering COVID-19 vaccines to veterans already receiving care from the VA, based on CDC and VA risk criteria. If you’re eligible to get a vaccine, the VA health care system will contact you. Veterans who are not enrolled or do not currently receive care at VA can visit VA’s Eligibility web page to learn more. 

Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) COVID-19 Vaccine Update”

How (Most) Americans Rose To The Pandemic Challenge

This month, the United States recorded a horrific milestone: 500,000 deaths from COVID-19. Someday, historians will look back at the pandemic and note all the mistakes and failures that helped make it the most deadly outbreak of disease in more than a century. But if they are wise, they will also note this past year as one in which Americans were asked to rise to a challenge — and did so in impressive fashion. 

It’s tempting to focus our attention on all the ways our leaders and people went wrong. The 45th president repeatedly lied about the severity of the threat, resisted basic measures to curb it and held out false hopes that only aided the virus. Some Americans protested against public health mandates and selfishly disregarded medical guidance, spreading disease in the process.

But the noise and fury in some quarters obscure the broad acceptance of unwanted changes. For the most part, Americans have recognized the danger and have embraced unprecedented obligations. Continue reading.

S.D. Gov. Kristi Noem says she nailed the pandemic response. Fauci: The numbers ‘don’t lie.’

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R), a conservative favorite, received a standing ovation at the Conservative Political Action Conference when she criticized Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for being “wrong a lot” — which the nation’s top infectious-disease expert said was unhelpful.

While making a dig at Fauci at the Orlando conference, Noem touted her personal liberties approach to the coronavirus pandemic, forgoing recommendations to mandate masks and instead allowing a massive motorcycle rally later tied to a national surge in infections. Despite Noem’s claims of success, her state has reported more infections per resident than any state besides North Dakota.

“South Dakota is the only state in America that never ordered a single business or church to close,” she said to applause and cheers. “We never instituted a shelter-in-place order. We never mandated that people wear masks. We never even defined what an essential business is.” Continue reading.

Governors lift COVID-19 restrictions despite risks of new spike

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Governors across the country are lifting coronavirus restrictions, including mask mandates and capacity limits, despite warning signs ahead of a new spike from virus variants.

The moves in several states are risky, given that while cases and hospitalizations have declined dramatically in recent weeks, they are still at extremely high levels, and are showing signs of ticking back up again.

More infectious variants of the virus, particularly one first found in the United Kingdom, are adding to the threat of a new spike as they become more prevalent. Continue reading.

CDC director warns of a ‘very concerning shift’ in the COVID-19 data

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With many millions of people getting vaccinated for COVID-19 every week and infection rates decreasing in recent weeks, medical experts have been expressing some optimism about the future course of the pandemic. But Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned on Friday that the declines are now “stalling.”

In a briefing on Friday, the CDC director explained, “Over the last few weeks, cases and hospital admissions in the United States had been coming down since early January — and deaths had been declining in the past week. But the latest data suggests that these declines may be stalling, potentially leveling off at still a very high number. We at CDC consider this a very concerning shift in the trajectory.”

President Joe Biden has been pushing for an aggressive increase in COVID-19 vaccinations, and owners of brick-and-mortar businesses in the United States are hoping that it will be safe to ease restrictions in the months ahead. But Walensky warned against easing those restrictions prematurely — especially in light of highly infectious new COVID-19 variants that have emerged. Continue reading.

FCC approves broadband stipend for low-income families hit by pandemic

Federal Communications Commission will give out $50 to $75 per month to low-income families and people laid off because of the pandemic

The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to establish a program that will provide a $50 monthly stipend for broadband internet access to individuals struggling during the pandemic.

The stipend, provided by the new Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, will increase to $75 per month for people living on tribal lands, and includes a one-time, $100 discount on a computer or tablet.

Congress created the program last December and included $3.2 billion for it in the fiscal 2021 omnibus spending package. Individuals who qualify for the program include those who lost their jobs or were furloughed because of the pandemic and low-income families, including recipients of Medicaid, food stamps and free or reduced school lunch. Pell Grant recipients also qualify. Continue reading.

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: February 26, 2021

Governor Walz: State to Vaccinate 70% of Seniors by End of March Before Expanding Vaccine Eligibility

Minnesota COVID Vaccination Plan


This week, Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota will remain focused on vaccinating most of the state’s seniors before expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Walz issued guidance to vaccinate 70% of adults 65 years of age and older before expanding eligibility, and aims to reach this goal by the end of March. The directive is the latest commitment of the Walz-Flanagan Administration to vaccinating seniors and keeping them safe.

Continue reading “Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: February 26, 2021”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: September 26, 2021


Neighbors,

I am still taking your feedback on issues that may be discussed this legislative session. Your priorities are important to me. Please take a moment to click on this link and complete my legislative survey. 

You are invited to join Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn, Sen. Cwodzinski, and me on Tuesday, March 16 for a virtual town hall. Details to follow.

Paid Family Medical Leave

This week, we heard compelling testimony in the Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee, of which I serve as Vice-Chair, on the Paid Family Medical Leave bill. Whether we need to stay home to care for ourselves when sick, bond with a new baby, or help an aging parent, every Minnesotan should have time to care for themselves or a loved one. You can watch the committee here.  

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Anticipating more COVID-19 vaccine arriving in Minnesota, Governor Walz this week announced the strategy and next phases of vaccine distribution. Also announced was a plan to vaccinate 70% of all seniors by the end of March.

Minnesota COVID Vaccination Plan


The Vaccine Connector  is another tool to link Minnesotans with a vaccine. For now, there is more demand than supply, but every Minnesotan will have an opportunity to get vaccinated as more supply arrives in the weeks and months ahead. It will just take time, and the Vaccine Connector is another tool Minnesotans can use to be prepared.

Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Wear masks when in public. 10-50% of virus carriers are asymptomatic (are not experiencing any symptoms). Wearing masks helps control the virus and has been shown to lessen COVID-19 spread. 
  • Avoid enclosed spaces with groups of people, where the virus can linger in the air for long periods of time.
  • Get tested if you have cold or flu-like symptoms.
  • Stay six feet away from others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose, and mouth – with unwashed hands.
  • Up-to-date guidance is available from the Department of Health.

Stay connected with the legislature

The Minnesota House will continue to operate remotely, as we did throughout most of 2020. The House will ensure openness and transparency for the public by expanding the number of simultaneous committees it can webcast live from a maximum of two to five, so you can stay current on issues moving through committees this budget session. 

Also, the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here.  

Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can also connect with me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol.

Sincerely,

Laurie Pryor

State Representative