COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available for the general public.
- While supply remains limited, Ramsey County is following federal and state guidelines to distribute the vaccine in phases to have the greatest impact and prevent further spread to those most at-risk.
- Eventually, there will be enough vaccine for everyone.
- The vaccine will be free.
- No one will be required to get the vaccine by the government or public health.
Who is getting the vaccine now?
Pilot project
Governor Walz has announced the following additional groups are eligible to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a pilot in late January:
- Minnesotans aged 65 and over
- Pre-k through grade 12 educators
- Child care workers
The State of Minnesota will provide nine locations where they will provide vaccinations to people in these categories for a limited amount of time. Vaccinations are by appointment only. Walk-ins without an appointment will not be available.
Starting Tuesday, January 19, at 12 p.m., you can make an appointment:
- Online.
- By phone at 612-426-7230 or toll free at 833-431-2053.
The nine pilot vaccination sites are in the following cities: Anoka, Brooklyn Center, Fergus Falls, Marshall, Mountain Iron, North Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and Thief River Falls.
Learn more about eligibility, scheduling an appointment and what to expect at the vaccination clinics.
Ramsey County is not operating these vaccine clinics. We continue to coordinate and provide vaccinations for Phase 1a.
Phase 1a
Phase 1a of vaccine distribution, which includes the following groups:
- Healthcare personnel (including: hospital staff working with COVID-19 patients, staff in skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes, emergency medical services personnel who provide direct patient care, COVID-19 testers and vaccinators).
- Long-term care residents.
- More information about phase 1a
Individuals in these groups will be notified by their employers or facility where they live on how they will get the vaccine.
Who will get the vaccine next?
The next groups able to get the vaccine (Phase 1b), includes the following:
- Frontline essential workers.
- Other groups to be determined.
We do not know when Phase 1b will begin. The Minnesota Department of Health will continue to communicate about who is included in the phase, when supplies will be available and timeline for vaccines.
When can I get the vaccine?
Learn more about vaccine distribution and what phase you might be in
Vaccine fact sheets
The following fact sheets are available in PDF format:
Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine is not available to the general public yet. When more vaccine is available, you will be able to get it from:
- Health care providers.
- Vaccine clinics operated by public health departments and community health centers.
- Pharmacies.
Safety and effectiveness
The first COVID-19 vaccines in the United States were developed by Moderna and Pfizer.
- They have been tested and found to prevent COVID-19 in 95 percent of people given the vaccine, a very high rate of effectiveness.
- These two vaccines and others still in development must all meet existing strict safety standards.
All the usual steps have been taken to make sure the COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
- There has been no change in standards to make sure the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, pure and effective. For instance, the number of people in COVID-19 vaccine trials is the same as trials for other vaccines in recent years, and they include people from diverse backgrounds.
- To speed up the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, drug manufacturers built upon previous research as well as used new and faster methods.
- Companies have also been able to make the vaccine more quickly because the federal government is paying the cost.
Learn more about vaccine safety and effectiveness:
- How we will know the vaccine is safe - Minnesota Department of Health
- Ensuring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How the vaccine works:
- The COVID-19 vaccine requires a series of two doses. You will get one shot, and then a second shot three to four weeks later. It is very important to get both shots to be fully protected.
- The first vaccines that have been developed do not contain any live or dead COVID-19 virus. They contain material that teaches our immune system to recognize the COVID-19 virus and destroy it before it can infect you.
Vaccine request for employers with essential personnel
Vaccine distribution request for employers with essential personnel and/or unaffiliated healthcare sites
Minnesota currently has a very limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine. Ramsey County is following the guidance from the State of Minnesota for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Ramsey County currently offers a form for employers with essential personnel to request access to the COVID-19 vaccine. The purpose of the form below is to assist Public Health in identifying employers who need assistance in getting access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Note the following:
- The form is intended for employers with essential personnel within a closed setting, such as a group home or assisted living facility.
- The form is not intended for non-essential workers.
- The form is not intended for those affiliated with a healthcare system. If you are affiliated with a healthcare system, contact your system about access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Completing this form does not guarantee access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Additional resources
Ramsey County residents are encouraged to educate themselves early and often about the COVID-19 vaccine. Please be advised not everything on social media or the internet is true. Consult reliable sources, like health care professionals and governmental agencies, like the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- 8 things to know about vaccine planning - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- COVID-19 vaccines - Food and Drug Administration
- November 18 COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Lynne Ogawa - Vaccinations