More than Half of Minnesota’s Teachers, Seniors Vaccinated Against COVID-19

A nurse prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccination at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center during COVID-19 vaccinations in Eagan, Minn., on Friday, March 5, 2021. Approximately 13,400 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered at the Minnesota Vikings practice facility to health care workers and adults 65 years of age or older over the next few days. (John Autey/Pioneer Press via AP, Pool)

(KNSI) – Minnesota hit a milestone this weekend: 1 million people vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose.

The state’s latest data, reported on March 5, shows 1,046,077 people have received at least their first vaccine dose. 54.5 percent of those recipients have gotten two doses, completing the vaccine series for the most effective results from Pfizer and Moderna’s products.

On Saturday, Gov. Tim Walz’s office announced that about 55 percent of Minnesota’s school staff and child care workers have received the vaccine.

“Vaccinating more and more of our teachers and child care workers means that our students are able to return to in-person learning,” Walz said. “As a parent and a former classroom teacher, I am proud of our state’s vaccination progress and I look forward to building on this success until all of our educators have received the vaccine.”

The vaccination rate for the state’s other priority group, seniors, is making strides with 63.9 percent of Minnesotans age 65 and older receiving at least one vaccine dose.

The governor’s office says the state is averaging 42,000 vaccine doses administered per day.

Saturday marked the anniversary of Minnesota’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 6, 2020. The first recorded COVID-19 case in Stearns County was discovered on March 12, 2020.

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