Minnesota Aims to Vaccinate Food Service Workers in Late Spring

In a press conference on February 25, Minnesota Health officials announced that food retail workers, including those in the hospitality industry, can expect to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine sometime in May and June of this year.

In Minnesota, the priority has been to vaccinate at least 70 percent of Minnesotans 65 and up. After that benchmark is set, starting in early spring, priority will go to those with either one or two underlying health conditions, depending on their age. At this time, meat packers will also be allowed to access the vaccine, which highlights the essential nature of that work and the high rate of infection that industry has faced.

In May or June, food workers in agricultural settings, food retail, and food service will finally be allowed to get vaccinated.

Officials expect “a significant increase in volume of doses” to increase capacity for vaccination to arrive in the state in early spring.

MHD [Official]

Governor Tim Walz also urged all Minnesotans to remain home when possible, get tested often, and get vaccinated when they can. By summer, every Minnesotan that wants to receive the vaccine should have the opportunity to get one.

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