As part of the State of Minnesota’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program (CVP), Governor Tim Walz announced on Wednesday a new community vaccination site to launch this week at Mall of America in Bloomington.
The large-scale, permanent site will be the fourth of its kind, joining sites in Minneapolis, Duluth, and Rochester that launched last week. The Mall of America will serve approximately 8,190 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 educators, school staff, and child care workers in its first week.
“We’re continuing to build a reliable network of options for Minnesotans to access the vaccine,” said Governor Walz. “In addition to helping all Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their vaccine through the Vaccine Connector, the site at the Mall of America expands the network to give more Minnesotans access to shots in their communities.”
The Bloomington site launch follows the announcement last week that more than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Minnesota as of February 19.
“More vaccine is still needed, but we will be ready when the federal government ramps up to meet the demand,” continued Governor Walz. “Just as Minnesota remains a leader in testing, so too are we setting the tone in community vaccination. We will continue to expand access until every Minnesotan has the opportunity to receive the vaccine, regardless of where they live.”
Staff in education and child care settings will be contacted directly if selected to sign up for vaccine appointments.
“Today we continue to move forward with our plan to expand access to teachers and child care providers, setting the stage for the day federal vaccine supply catches up with demand,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “We are determined to ensure every Minnesotan has the opportunity to access the vaccine, no matter where they call home.”
Background on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination
To date, over 94,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered through the State of Minnesota’s community vaccination efforts since January 21. This includes over 23,000 doses at the state’s Community Vaccination Program’s (CVP) large-scale, permanent sites in Duluth, Minneapolis and Rochester since February 4.
In addition to the CVP, the state’s all-of-the-above approach to vaccine distribution bolsters the proven network of local health care providers, which is how most Minnesotans should expect to receive the vaccine once the federal government ramps up vaccine supply to meet demand.
Last week, Governor Tim 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 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.
In addition to the Vaccine Connector, Minnesotans can search for local providers on the state’s vaccine finder map: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp
—Information provided by the Office of Governor Tim Walz.
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.