|
|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The vaccine rollout is top of mind for all Minnesotans. Particularly for family members who are concerned about elderly parents or those folks with other health conditions that may put them at higher risk if they contracted COVID-19.
The Minnesota Department of Health Vaccine Dashboard is available online here and updated daily at 11:00 am. This dashboard has the most up to date statewide information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Minnesota.
On Monday, a new 72-hour goal for vaccine providers to administer 90 percent of their vaccine doses within three days of receiving them, and all doses within one week. Vaccines not distributed in that timeframe could be redistributed.
I am committed to sharing pertinent information with you as soon as I receive it, so I will be posting a special vaccine update email on Tuesday’s. Please feel free to share this update with any of your family members, neighbors, and friends. Others can subscribe to my email updates by sending me their email address to rep.barb.haley@house.mn
Pilot Community Vaccination Sites
Minnesota Department of Health now using a random selection process for appointments at the pilot community vaccination sites. The information below is from MDH.
In order to be considered for an appointment for a vaccine, Minnesotans aged 65 and older must first complete the pre-registration using the online portal or by calling toll free at 833-431-2053.
- The online portal will be available for pre-registration for 24 hours, starting on Tuesday, January 26 at 5:00 a.m. During these hours, a link to access the online portal will be live and available on this page.
- The call center will be open on Tuesday, January 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for pre-registration. Due to high demand for vaccine appointments, it's encourage Minnesotans to use the online portal if at all possible. If the call center line is busy, try calling again later.
You can complete your pre-registration online or by phone at any time during the above available hours. The random selection process is NOT first come, first serve. Signing up for the pre-registration list means you will have a chance to be randomly selected, so you do not have to register right away. Anyone who is on the pre-registration list at the time of random selection will have the opportunity to be chosen to make an appointment for a vaccine.
Everyone who is currently on the waitlist from the first week will be automatically pre-registered to be randomly selected for an appointment.
If you are randomly selected to receive a vaccine this week, you will be notified on Wednesday, January 27 by text, email, or phone with instructions on how to finalize your appointment. If you elect to receive a phone call, please be certain to answer your phone as, due to time constraints in filling appointments, reservationists will make ONLY two contact attempts. If you are selected and cannot use your appointment, another Minnesotan on the pre-registration list will be randomly selected for that appointment.
If you are selected to make an appointment, you will be able to get your vaccine at one of nine pilot sites, located in the following communities: Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mountain Iron, North Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Thief River Falls. (NOTE: The pilot clinic operating in Andover last week has relocated to Blaine this week.) Please be patient and remember that until the federal government provides more vaccine, there will not be enough doses for all who want one. More opportunities for vaccination will be coming as we get more vaccine.
If you are an education or childcare professional and you received notification from your employer that you were selected to receive a vaccination, please follow the instructions you were provided to make an appointment online.
What to expect at the appointment
- Do not arrive for your appointment any earlier than 15 minutes. This is to ensure social distancing.
- You will not be asked for insurance information. The COVID-19 vaccine is being provided at no cost.
- Educators and child care workers will need to show the same license or employee ID they provided when making their appointment. A paystub is also acceptable.
- Plan to sit for 15 minutes of observation after you receive your vaccine. If you have allergies, you will need to sit for 30 minutes.
See What to Expect After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine (PDF) for more information.
|
|
St. Elizabeth Health system in Wabasha
Gunderson Health system, which operates St. Elizabeth's health system in Wabasha, put out the following information for their rollout of the vaccine:
We will invite all Gundersen patients in the following categories to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine:
- All patients in Wisconsin and Minnesota ages 75 years and older
- Patients in Wisconsin and Minnesota ages 65 to 74 who have increased risk due to certain conditions as defined by the CDC including cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, obesity, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes and those with weakened immune systems from organ transplants or who smoke
How our patients can prepare now
Our ability to offer vaccination depends on our supply. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we work with our community partners, using state and federal guidance, to determine who can be vaccinated and exactly when.
When it's time for you to schedule your vaccination appointment through Gundersen, you'll see a message from us in MyChart or you will receive a letter from us. Help us prepare for community vaccination by establishing a MyChart account now, if you haven't already. (If you don’t have a MyChart account, we’ll send a letter inviting you to call us to schedule a vaccine appointment.)
COVID-19 vaccine information is available anytime at gundersenhealth.org/covid19.
|
|
Goodhue County Information
Goodhue County has set up a webpage titled, When and Where I can get a COVID-19 Vaccine? This will be a great resource for folks in Goodhue County to get up to date vaccine information. There is also a COVID-19 Hotline number for Goodhue County available Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm: 651-385-2000.
Goodhue County also has a website dedicated to giving updates on COVID-19 cases and vaccination numbers in the county
|
|
STAYING IN TOUCH
As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding any issue, please contact me. You can reach me at rep.barb.haley@house.mn or 651-296-8635.
Sincerely,
|
|
 |
|
/RepBarbHaley
|
|
239 State Office Bldg.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-8635
rep.barb.haley@house.mn |
|
|
|
|
