Thrifty White has more than 3,000 COVID vaccine appointments available for over 65s in Minnesota
Thrifty White, one of three pharmacy chains distributing COVID-19 vaccines to the over-65s in Minnesota, has more than 3,000 appointments available in rural Minnesota.
You can find which pharmacies have appointments available here. That being said, appointments at pharmacies in more populous communities tend to fill up quickly.
As of this writing (11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3), there are 3,686 openings in the following cities (below you'll find a second list, which are some of the locations closest to the Twin Cities that currently have appointments):
- Bagley – 6 openings
- Baudette – 56 openings
- Bemidji – 173 openings
- Breckenridge – 197 openings
- Cold Spring – 122 openings
- Crookston – 1 opening
- Fergus Falls – 201 openings
- Grand Rapids – 196 openings
- Granite Falls – 151 openings
- Hibbing – 152 openings
- Hinckley – 49 openings
- Hoyt Lakes – 198 openings
- Madison – 199 openings
- Marshall – 147 openings
- Milaca – 147 openings
- Perham – 193 openings
- Pierz – 176 openings
- Red Lake Falls – 36 openings
- Sandstone – 176 openings
- Slayton – 195 openings
- Springfield – 191 openings
- Thief River Falls – 9 openings
- Wadena – 147 openings
- Walker – 187 openings
- Wells – 181 openings
- Westbrook – 200 openings
The cities on the list above that are closest to the Twin Cities include:
- Milaca, which is about 64 miles or roughly 1 hour and 7 minutes from Minneapolis.
- Cold Spring, which is about 78 miles or roughly 1 hour and 13 minutes from Minneapolis.
- Hinckley, which is about 81 miles or roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes from Minneapolis.
- Sandstone, which is about 90 miles or roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes from Minneapolis.
You can also see all the Thrifty White pharmacy locations in the state here, which could help you determine the closest one to you.
Thrifty White says it will add more appointments when it confirms more allocations of the vaccine. It is currently offering the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, the website notes.
There are also COVID-19 vaccine appointments available through Wabasha County Public Health, which will be hosting a vaccine clinic on Thursday for those 65 and older. More details here.
Gov. Tim Walz last week said the state will expand its vaccine program beyond healthcare workers, educators, long-term care residents and those who are 65 and older once 70% of Minnesotans 65 and older have recieved at least one dose of the vaccine.
Walz says he thinks that'll be by the end of March.
Meanwhile, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Walz is scheduled to hold a news conference to highlight the arrival of Johnson and Johnson's COVID vaccine in Minnesota.
This vaccine, in addition to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, will help boost the state's vaccine supply and should help speed up the governor's vaccination timeline.