Minnesota Tribal Communities Set Pace Getting Vaccines to Vulnerable Communities

Over 60 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older have been vaccinated for COVID-16.

Minnesota ranks in the top ten by state for percentage of COVID vaccines administered.

Governor Tim Walz has credited Tribal communities within Minnesota for setting the pace and for showing how to get vaccines to those who need them most.

These sovereign nations have been so effective because they focused vaccination efforts on elders and multi-generational households for native and non-native residents within their lands. Tribal leaders also made getting shots easier, bringing the vaccine to those who might have barriers to accessing it.

President Joe Biden too wants to make vaccinations more convenient.

One way is through the government website VACCINES dot GOV. There you can input your zip code to find vaccines near you. You can designate how far you’re willing to travel, one to 25 miles. And you can limit results by selecting a preferred vaccine: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

The search results offer a list of available providers by distance and whether vaccines are in or out of stock. By clicking the provider, you can check availability and make an appointment.

A map, directions, phone number and link to the provider’s website are also given.

Beginning May 24, Uber and Lyft will be offering free round-trip rides to vaccination clinics. This is part of a federal effort to get at least one dose into at least 70 percent of Americans by July 4.

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