COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Vaccine Connector

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February 24, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The severe weather all across the country last week caused delays in vaccine shipments and both Goodhue and Wabasha county had to cancel some vaccination clinics. They are working this week to reschedule and staff for the additional vaccines coming this week. Many of you have asked about the prioritization of teachers and child care workers in this process. They are prioritized in this rollout phase, along with seniors over 65, and thus the state specifically directs the number of vaccines each week that the counties need to allocate to educators.

On the national front, vaccines are being manufactured and administered faster than ever and in a recent Wall Street Journal article Dr. Marty Makary, who is a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, makes the case that we'll have herd immunity by April and the worst of the pandemic is over.

Read about the new Vaccine Connector tool to administer the vaccine to Minnesotans, Hy-Vee now administering vaccines in Minnesota, and an update from the St. Elizabeth Health System vaccine efforts below. Have a great week!

Vaccine Connector Tool

Last Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health announced a new tool for all Minnesotans to sign up to receive an alert when there is a vaccine available to them — regardless if they are currently eligible to receive one.

The "Vaccine Connector" is a tool for all Minnesotans who have not yet been vaccinated – the Vaccine Connector will notify you when it’s your turn for a shot.

You don’t need to sign up if:

• You have already received your COVID-19 vaccine.
• You previously registered for our COVID-19 Vaccine Pilot Program or the COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program.
• You completed the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Child Care survey.

The Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector will get you information about when, where, and how you can get the vaccine.

It’s important to note that if you are eligible to get vaccinated right now, you do not have to wait for information from the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector before you get your shot. If your health care provider or employer contacts you about making an appointment, or if you have another opportunity to get vaccinated, you can and should do that.

Hy-Vee Now Offering Vaccine Appointments 

Hy-Vee locations across Minnesota are now going to be offering COVID-19 Vaccines. They will be part of the Vaccine Connector, but you can also sign up to receive updates from Hy-Vee when they will have vaccines here.

Vaccine Update from Gunderson Health

Below is an excerpt from a news release from Gunderson Health System, which services many in our area and runs St. Elizabeth Health System:

Gundersen Health System is able to keep all first-dose vaccine appointments this week at our La Crosse and Onalaska locations. Gundersen regional vaccination locations are doing well working through eligible patients, based on supply received from state and county sources. 

Vaccine demand continues to exceed vaccine supply, but we expect to provide about 3,000 first-and-second dose appointments this week system wide.  

Most important: Patients who have their first dose vaccine appointments cancelled in recent weeks will be notified and prioritized for a rescheduled appointment as soon as supply allows. 

We ask patients refrain from calling or emailing Gundersen about COVID-19 vaccine appointments or about vaccine availability or eligibility and urge them to visit gundersenhealth.org for the latest information. 

Vaccine appointments at Gundersen are only available to patients who have received an appointment invitation through MyChart, letter or telephone call. 

Gundersen encourages patients to receive the vaccination at another location, if they’re able. Walgreens is providing COVID-19 vaccine to those eligible. Several counties in Gundersen’s service area are offering vaccine registration and notifications once those registered are eligible for the vaccine, including [...] Fillmore, Houston and Winona in Minnesota. 

Still important: Everyone who enters a Gundersen location must wear a mask and be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, including those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Vaccine Information Links

With the constant state of new information, it is best to check the following links regularly for updates:

• NEW: Vaccine Connector
• MDH Vaccine Information: mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/
• Goodhue County Information: co.goodhue.mn.us/1399/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information
• Wabasha County Information: co.wabasha.mn.us/news
• Wabasha County COVID-19 Hotline: 651-565-8103 (M-F 8:00AM - 4:00PM)
• Mayo Clinic Information: mayoclinichealthsystem.org/covid-19-semn-vaccination-phase
• St. Elizabeth Health System Information: gundersenhealth.org/covid19/covid-19-vaccine/
• Veterans Affairs Health Care System: www.minneapolis.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp

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,

239 State Office Bldg.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-8635
rep.barb.haley@house.mn