Beginning next Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights will temporarily transition into a federally supported COVID-19 vaccination site. This new site is scheduled to operate for a total of eight weeks and is expected to fully vaccinate well over 100,000 Minnesota residents during this period.
According to FEMA’s Kevin M Sligh, the fairgrounds site is designed to “expand and expedite the vaccine to the most underserved and vulnerable populations” in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Therefore, vaccine appointments are reserved for those residing in one of 38 zip codes that rank high on the CDC’s “Social Vulnerability Index.” A list of those zip codes is directly below:
55101, 55102, 55103, 55104, 55105, 55106, 55107, 55108, 55109, 55110, 55111, 55112, 55113, 55114, 55115, 55116, 55117, 55118, 55119, 55130, 55334, 55344, 554012, 55403, 55404, 55405, 55406, 55407, 55408, 55409, 55410, 55411, 55412, 55413, 55414, 55415, 55416, 55417, 55418, 55419, 55420, 55421, 55423, 55424, 55425, 55426, 55427, 55428, 55429, 55430, 55432, 55435, 55454, 55458
Minnesotans 16 and older in living in these zip codes must schedule their appointment in advance by calling the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-431-2053 or going online to register through the State of Minnesota vaccine connector. Both the two-dose Pfizer vaccine and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available at the fairground vaccine site. Those that receive the Pfizer vaccine will be asked to schedule the appointment for their second dose, which will be administered approximately three weeks after the first.
The COVID-19 vaccines at the fairgrounds will be provided at no cost and neither insurance information, nor identification are required on site. In addition, the Pioneer Press reports that health officials are planning to allocate approximately 1,000 doses of the vaccine per week for vulnerable local residents who prefer to receive the vaccine at a community-based clinic. According to Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, these collective efforts are vital to ensuring “fair and equitable access to the vaccine,” while adding that, “We want each and every Minnesotan to know we see you, we have your back, and we will make sure you can easily and safely get your shot.”
