Newly eligible Minnesotans include those with underlying health conditions and essential frontline workers; Announcement comes weeks ahead of schedule after the state moved quickly to use more vaccine from the federal government.

Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota is expanding vaccine eligibility as the state reaches its goal of vaccinating 70% of Minnesotans 65 years of age and older this week. The announcement comes several weeks ahead of schedule after the state moved quickly to use more vaccine from the federal government.

As a result, the state will expand eligibility to the next two phases of Minnesotans at once , starting Wednesday. Providers have been directed to prioritize people in the first of these phases, which includes Minnesotans with specific underlying health conditions; food processing plant workers; and Minnesotans with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of severe illness. Providers will then have the flexibility to provide available appointments to other eligible Minnesotans.

In line with that guidance, Minnesota will expand vaccine eligibility this week, more than three weeks ahead of previous goals.

This expedited timeline is a result of the expansive, robust network of options Minnesota stood up to get shots to everyone across the state. Minnesota providers are quickly vaccinating patients as the federal government ships even more doses to states. To provide more flexibility to providers and get critical protection against COVID-19 to even more Minnesotans, two additional phases will be eligible for the vaccine beginning Wednesday.

More than 1.8 million Minnesotans will become eligible to receive a vaccine beginning this week:

Phase 1b Tier 2 populations, including:

• Minnesotans with specific underlying health conditions: Sickle cell disease, Down syndrome, those in cancer treatment or immunocompromised from organ transplant, oxygen-dependent chronic lung and heart conditions (COPD & CHF)
• Targeted essential workers: Food processing plant workers
• Minnesotans with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of severe illness

Phase 1b Tier 3 populations, including:

• Minnesotans age 45 years and older with one or more underlying medical conditions identified by the CDC
• Minnesotans age 16 years and older with two or more underlying medical conditions*
• Minnesotans age 50 years and older in multi-generational housing
• Essential frontline workers: Agricultural, airport staff, additional child care workers not previously eligible, correctional settings, first responders, food production, food retail, food service, judicial system workers, manufacturing, public health workers, public transit, and U.S. Postal Service workers

All Minnesotans who have not received a vaccine should sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to get regular updates on vaccine availability and eligibility.

It’s fast and easy!

1. Go to COVID-19 Vaccine Connector
2. Fill out the questionnaire.
3. You will receive confirmation via email that your Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector sign-up is complete.
4. When the information you provided suggests you might be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, you will receive information on vaccine opportunities in your area and how to schedule your appointment. If you don’t have an email address, you will be notified via text message or phone call.