All Minnesotans 16 And Older Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine Starting Tuesday

By Ricardo Lopez, Minnesota Reformer

March 25, 2021

Beginning Tuesday, all Minnesotans 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Tim Walz’s office said on Thursday.

Walz will announce on Friday the eligibility expansion, a spokesman confirmed.

Minnesota Health Department officials said Thursday that they expect a major expansion of vaccine doses the first week in April. That would provide 300,000 state residents their first dose, and an additional 200,000 second dose.

Still, health officials cautioned that vaccines will not be immediately available to everyone who is eligible.

“Continuing to honor a commitment to immunizing for impact, the Walz-Flanagan Administration will be directing providers to prioritize vaccine appointments for older Minnesotans, those with underlying health conditions, and those in frontline jobs,” Walz spokesman Teddy Tschann said in a statement. “Providers will then have the flexibility to provide available appointments to other eligible Minnesotans.”

The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell..