Minnesota set to miss state COVID-19 vaccine goal, hit federal one

Minnesota has reported fewer than 5,000 new COVID-19 vaccine recipients per day over the past week, but the declining progress might be just enough for the state to beat President Joe Biden's goal of providing shots to 70% of adults by July 4th.

The state on Thursday reported that more than 3 million eligible Minnesotans 12 and older have received vaccine against COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus. While Minnesota might not reach its own goal of providing vaccine to 70% of people 16 and older by July 1, it appears set to become the 17th state to surpass the federal goal ahead of Independence Day.

Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota would be one of the first states in the Midwest to hit that mark and encouraged people to get vaccinated. The coronavirus has caused 604,879 diagnosed infections in Minnesota and 7,561 COVID-19 deaths. The figures include 138 infections reported Thursday along with six deaths — including the 68th death involving someone younger than 40.

"We knew there would be a day where supply would far outstrip demand," said Walz, speaking Wednesday at a makeshift vaccination event before the Minnesota United game in St. Paul. "We're looking at it every different way. There's many reasons why people haven't been vaccinated yet — they're busy, they want more information, we've got to take it to get to the communities where they're at."

State health officials have lauded Minnesota's vaccination progress this spring for shortening a pandemic wave that was fueled by more infectious variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

The latest weekly federal COVID-19 state profile listed Minnesota with the 17th lowest rate of new infections among U.S. states after having one of the worst rates all spring.

The report also estimated that more than 80% of new infections in Minnesota are linked to these variants, particularly the alpha variant that was first identified in England.

Genomic sequencing of a sampling of positive infections in Minnesota has monitored growth in other variants as well — with 404 infections identified with the gamma variant first identified in Brazil. No new infections were reported this week involving the delta variant that fueled an outbreak in India. Minnesota's known count of infections involving that variant remains at 47.

Minnesota's emergence from the latest pandemic wave was reflected by the continued decline in the positivity rate of diagnostic testing — now at a pandemic low of 1.3%. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota also declined from 699 on April 14 at the peak of the latest wave to 117 on Wednesday.

Minnesota is shutting down state pop-up testing sites this week in Bloomington and at the Minneapolis Convention Center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul. State testing sites also will be shut down June 29 in Albert Lea, Crookston and Wadena, and June 30 in Chisholm, Hutchinson and Morris.

Testing remains broadly available at other state pop-up sites as well as clinics and pharmacies, some of which offer drive-through service.

State health officials hope increased vaccination can stifle the spread of the virus, including to people who can't seek shots because of their age or other health issues. Out of nearly 2.8 million fully vaccinated people — who received their final dose at least 14 days ago — the state has identified 3,080 breakthrough infections. That is a rate of 0.1%. The breakthrough infections include 333 hospitalizations and 46 COVID-19 deaths.

While the seven-day average of new vaccine recipients in Minnesota dropped below 4,000 per day on Thursday, state leaders estimate only 30,000 more recipients are needed in the next two weeks to reach the federal goal. Minnesota has used a variety of incentives to boost lagging vaccination numbers, offering 100,000 new vaccine recipients in June free entry into attractions such as Valleyfair or $25 Visa gift cards.

Companies also supported the campaign. At least 16 breweries and distilleries offered vaccine recipients free or discounted drinks, and professional sports teams held on-site vaccination events. Minnesota United's apparel store offered discounts Wednesday to vaccine recipients as well.

While a 70% vaccination rate might halt spread of the coronavirus, state health officials said there is nothing magic about the July targets and that they will be working to raise Minnesota's immunization rate beyond that mark all summer.

Regional and other gaps in vaccination coverage persist. While the first-dose vaccination rate is 76% for people 16 and older in Hennepin County, it remains 47% in fringe suburban Sherburne County and 36% in rural Todd County.

Staff writer Stephen Montemayor contributed to this report.

Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744