Updated: 02/04/2021
Chisago County Public Health is working diligently on planning and administering the COVID-19 vaccine in a phased approach set forth by the Federal Government and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Currently, Chisago County Officials are not accepting calls from the general public to schedule vaccine appointments at this time. Chisago County Public Health is working with employers within the identified phased vaccination groups on vaccine distribution. They will continue to work through the defined phased priority groups (as defined by MDH) with the vaccine doses that they are allotted until they are able to vaccinate the broader community who were not included in the initial vaccination phases. Priority groups do not need to contact Public Health to receive the vaccine, Public Health will contact these groups directly.
Priority groups are vaccinated by either a local health care facility or our Local Public Health Department. At this time most groups that Local Public Health are responsible for in Phase 1a have completed their first dose, with some having completed the full vaccine series. Public Health will finish Phase 1a Third Priority Group (Phase 1a 3) in the next week or two, and will be moving into Phase 1b. M-Health Fairview has also announced that they are now accepting individuals 75 years of age and older to get vaccinated at their facilities. This is available to patients and non-M-Health Fairview patients. More information can be found on the M-Health Fairview Website.
Phase 1a 3 and 1b Priority Groups are listed below:
Phase 1a includes:
Third Priority:
All remaining Health Care Personnel (HCP) not included in the First and Second Priority Groups that are unable to telework. This includes, but is not limited to: HCP that work in hospitals, ambulatory and outpatient settings, home health settings, emergency shelters, Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF), dental offices, pharmacies, public health clinics, mental/behavioral health settings, correctional settings, and group homes. (Administered by both Local Public Health and Local Health Care Facility).
Phase 1b includes:
- Adults 65 years of age or older;
- Prekindergarten through grade 12 educators and school staff at public school districts, charter schools, tribal schools and nonpublic school organizations;
- Staff working in licensed and certified child care programs.
However, Public Health can only vaccinate these groups as quickly as the vaccine gets distributed to us. We have been receiving only 100-200 doses a week over the last month. At this pace it will be quite some time before we are able to cover the next priority groups. At this time, Chisago County Public Health is not taking appointments for those in Phase 1b, but a new pilot program allows all Minnesota residents an opportunity, that meet the criteria below, to be vaccinated at ten different sites across the state.
Minnesota is piloting a Community COVID-19 Vaccine Program, partnering with local public health and school districts, to place ten pilot sites across the state. These pilot sites will initially serve:
- Adults 65 years of age or older;
- Prekindergarten through grade 12 educators and school staff at public school districts, charter schools, tribal schools and nonpublic school organizations;
- Staff working in licensed and certified child care programs.
COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program
The State of Minnesota (State) is using a random selection process for appointments at their community vaccination sites. If you signed up for pre-registration last week, you will again have the opportunity to be chosen to make an appointment for a vaccine this week at either our Minneapolis or Duluth Community Vaccination Clinics.
- ***New pre-registrations are not being accepted at this time, but there will be future opportunities.
- If you are selected and cannot use your appointment, another Minnesotan on the pre-registration list will be randomly selected for that appointment.
- Notification that you've been randomly selected will arrive from Vault Health by email, text, or phone. Emails will arrive from hello@updates.vaulthealth.com You will receive a unique access code that will be required to schedule your appointment at a community vaccination clinic. (Be sure to keep an eye on your spam folder.)
- If you did not pre-register for an appointment at a community vaccination site, or if you prefer not to travel to Minneapolis or Duluth for an appointment, you may be able to find an appointment at a local healthcare provider. ***Use our new vaccine locator map to find a provider that's convenient for you!
- The ten original community vaccination clinics in Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mountain Iron, North Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul, and Thief River Falls will be open for two weeks starting Thursday, February 11, 2021 to administer second doses of vaccine only to those who have scheduled appointments. No new appointments will be schedule at these sites. No action is required at this time for those who have upcoming appointments at one of these sites for second doses.
- Please be patient and remember that demand for vaccine far exceeds supply. More opportunities for vaccination will be coming as we get more vaccine.
The State strongly encourages pre-registering online by visiting the State of Minnesota Website - Find Vaccine.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccine and distribution, please visit the local and statewide resources below (information is fluid and is subject to change):
LINK to Chisago County Public Health Facebook Page
LINK to Minnesota State COVID-19 Response Website
LINK to Minnesota Department of Health Website