HealthPartners opens drive-up COVID vaccine site in Twin Cities

HealthPartners has announced the opening of what it says is the first "drive-up" COVID vaccination service in Minnesota.

The healthcare provider says it's now offering the service at its Bloomington headquarters, and is planning to open more sites as the vaccine supply increases.

It will mean Minnesotans eligible for a vaccine will be able to make appointments and get their shots without leaving their vehicle.

The site will be open 7 days a week, with HealthPartners currently vaccinating those over the age of 65 who have used its health system within the past 3 years.

It has been sending out invitations by email, text and phone call to "randomized subsets" of this population as it administers its weekly allotment of COVID vaccines.

The drive-up site has been made possible because of the arrival of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine, which is a single dose and doesn't need to be kept at sub-zero temperatures like the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

As a result, HealthPartners says it'll be able to vaccinate more than 600 patients a day at its drive-up location, and now has the capability to vaccinate 20,000-plus system-wide.

You can find out more about HealthPartners' vaccine available here: healthpartners.com/vaccine.