The first COVID-19 vaccines are approved under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
An EUA is used in public health emergencies when: A product shows that it likely works, is safe but hasn't yet gone through the whole process of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure, and no other remedy is available.
Minnesota will not require COVID-19 vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You have the right to refuse or accept the COVID-19 vaccine, as stated in the EUA fact sheets: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Recipient Fact Sheet | EUA. We strongly encourage you to get the COVID-19 vaccine if it is available to you. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will help protect you and your family, co-workers, residents, patients, and community.
Available vaccines
There have been two COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The COVID-19 vaccination campaign has begun in Minnesota for our first priority groups. Who can get the vaccine and when will depend on how much vaccine the manufacturers are able to make and send out, and how many vaccine doses Minnesota receives from the federal government. Learn more at Vaccine Distribution and Administration.
Updates will be provided when we are able to start vaccinating more people and we will provide more information at that time for how eligible people can get vaccinated.
Several other COVID-19 vaccines are in development. They are going through different studies and checks (called clinical trials) to make sure they are safe, and that they work, before they are given to the public.
Who can get vaccinated
Even though we have two vaccines approved for emergency use, it will still take time before everyone can get it. There are currently a limited number of vaccine doses available to states from the federal government. This means there is not enough vaccine for everyone who wants one yet.
The goal for the first, limited doses of COVID-19 vaccine is to immunize for impact – meaning we are offering vaccine to those at highest risk of getting COVID-19 and those most at risk of severe disease and complications if they get COVID-19. The first groups to get vaccinated include health care workers and people who live and work in long-term care facilities. These people will be contacted by their employer or facility when they are able to get vaccinated. More information on the next eligible groups will be available in the coming weeks.
Minnesota recently launched a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program and opened community vaccination sites across the state. These sites will initially serve adults age 65 and older as well as educators (pre-kindergarten through grade 12), school staff, and child care workers. Because of limited vaccine supply, there are only a small number of appointments available. This program will help to vaccinate more people and to prepare for the future when more vaccine is made available from the federal government. For more information, including who can get vaccinated and how to schedule appointments, see Who's Getting Vaccinated.
MDH and health care providers will never contact you and ask for personal information or credit card information in order to get the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, refer to Federal Trade Commission: FTC Issues Consumer Tips for Avoiding COVID-19 Vaccine Scams.