FEMA to open COVID vaccination site at Minnesota State Fairgrounds
The Biden Administration has confirmed the opening of a Federal Emergency Management Agency-supported Community Vaccination Clinic at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
The site, announced in conjunction with the office of Gov. Tim Walz, will administer 168,000 vaccine shots – Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson doses – over an eight-week period starting Apr. 14.
These shots are in addition to the vaccine supplies Minnesota is already due to receive.
With the Pfizer vaccine a two-shot regimen, it will mean that 100,000 people will be vaccinated over the duration of the eight weeks.
What's more, the vaccines will be open to those "living in the highest Social Vulnerability Index zip codes near the Fairgrounds," while around 1,000 of the doses will be sent each day to "community-based clinics" serving these areas.
Here are the 39 zip codes where residents will qualify to be vaccinated at the FEMA site:
55454, 55103, 55130, 55411, 55404, 55117, 55428, 55119, 55107, 55106, 55407, 55430, 55412, 55102, 55429, 55421, 55104, 55114, 55432, 55118, 55420, 55413, 55402, 55109, 55406, 55423, 55415, 55405, 55408, 55425, 55112, 55111, 55403, 55101, 55344, 55435, 55113, 55458.
Those selected to get vaccines will not be required to show ID or have insurance. The vaccines are free, as is the case everywhere.
Walz says the fairgrounds are the perfect site as they "are well known, centrally located, accessible by public transportation, and expansive enough to allow for a high volume of drive-through vaccinations."
"The site will also allow Minnesotans who use other forms of transportation to get vaccinated," his office said.
“We’ve been pushing for a federal vaccination site, and I’m grateful the Biden-Harris Administration delivered on my request,” said Walz. “I appreciate having such strong federal partners to work with as we set and achieve ambitious goals to vaccinate Minnesotans as equitably and efficiently as possible. This site will help us protect some of the Minnesotans hardest hit by this pandemic as we continue to break down every barrier between each Minnesotan and their life-saving shot."
The fairgrounds site will be supported by FEMA but run by the State of Minnesota, much like its other eight community vaccination sites across the state.
It will be appointment only, so those who live within the zip codes listed above should sign up via Minnesota's Vaccine Connector.
