Minnesota Launches Permanent COVID-19 Vaccination Site at Roy Wilkins Auditorium

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to Minneapolis VA Hospital Director Patrick Kelly after over doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were delivered to the hospital Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP, Pool)

(KNSI) – The state is launching another COVID-19 community vaccination site, this time in St. Paul.

The clinic at Roy Wilkins Auditorium is expected to dole out 5,850 doses of the vaccine to eligible Minnesotans this week.

“We still need more supply, and the growing network of providers and sites is critical to delivering once federal supply meets demand,” Gov. Tim Walz said. “As we did with testing, we will expand access until every Minnesotan has easy access to the vaccine, regardless of where they live.”

Gov. Tim Walz’s office says the auditorium was previously used as a pop-up vaccine clinic earlier this year, administering more than 30,000 doses between January 21st and the end of February.

Minnesota is encouraging people in eligible groups to use the Vaccine Connector tool to find opportunities to get vaccinated.

“We continue to expand vaccine access in our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. “Once federal supply catches up with demand, we will be ready to ensure every Minnesotan has the opportunity to access the vaccine, no matter where they call home.”

The St. Paul site adds to the state’s other community vaccination clinics in Rochester, Duluth, Minneapolis and at the Mall of America in Bloomington.

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