As Minnesota’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Continues, Leaders Emphasize Equity

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(KNSI) – Minnesotans can now see approximately when they can get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new timeline introduced by Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday.

The state plans on starting vaccinations for essential workers and people with certain high-risk health conditions around the end of March, when 70 percent of Minnesota’s seniors are expected to be vaccinated. That timeline is a conservative estimate, says Walz, because it does not factor in Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine coming online or any increases in Minnesota’s weekly allocation, which are expected to occur.

As vaccinations continue, Minnesota health leaders say they are taking steps to ensure an equitable vaccine rollout in light of health disparities and barriers that have harmed people of color.

According to the CDC, Indigenous Americans are 3.7 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 and 2.4 times more likely to die from the disease than white Americans. Compared to white Americans, Black Americans are 1.9 times more likely and Hispanic/Latino Americans are 2.3 times more likely to die from COVID-19.

Though the Minnesota Department of Health tracks data on which county vaccine recipients live in, their age and their sex, it has not yet published data about the racial and ethnic makeup of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine recipients so far. However, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan says the state is making efforts to reach all Minnesotans in the current priority groups.

“When we say that we are focusing on all seniors, we mean all seniors,” Flanagan said Thursday. “That means seniors of color, that means Indigenous seniors, that means seniors coming from every part of the state.”

She says the state is undertaking “constantly evolving” efforts for equitable distribution of the vaccine, including partnering with different community leaders to spread information about the vaccine and communicating with media outlets that serve specific communities.

“The Minnesota Department of Health is partnering with 30 diverse media outlets across the state that serve communities of color, American Indian communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability communities to ensure that folks get factual data about vaccines and actionable information for Minnesotans seeking the shot.”

On the local end, CentraCare pediatrician Dr. Jill Amsberry says vaccine providers should ensure that the health disparities that have had negative impacts on racial and ethnic minority groups don’t carry over into the vaccination effort.

“In order to mitigate the virus, we also need to mitigate these health inequities,” Amsberry said.

An example: CentraCare’s mobile strike team that brings COVID-19 vaccines into different communities.

“We have a mobile strike team that focuses on communities that, because of various reasons, like lack of mobility, may not otherwise receive the vaccine. This team covers a 38-county area and has helped to vaccinate people from Moorehead to the Twin Cities, people in low-cost housing, homeless shelters, assisted living facilities and even the Saint Benedict’s monastery in St. Joseph.”

As of Tuesday, more than 783,000 Minnesotans have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, representing just over 14 percent of the population. Of that group, 49 percent have received their second dose.

People 65 and older make up the largest age group of vaccine recipients. MDH says 43.5 percent of the state’s senior population has gotten at least one dose, per the latest data.