Minnesota's first COVID-19 vaccinations at two federal hospitals are being celebrated as turning points against a pandemic that has caused at least 384,164 infections and 4,483 deaths in the state.
Leaders at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center gathered with Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday morning to watch the vaccination of nurse Thera Witte. She was the first of roughly 90 vaccinations at the hospital.
"The battle against the virus continues to wage, but this is at least a starting point on the road back," said Kurt Thielen, incident commander for the Minneapolis VA's COVID-19 response.
Thousands of doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Minnesota, with the Minneapolis VA and Cass Lake Indian Health Services (IHS) receiving shipments Monday.
The northern Minnesota IHS hospital wasted little time, holding a tribal ceremony Monday afternoon and vaccinating five tribal elders and five health care workers against an infectious disease that has been harsh on minorities. The per capita COVID-19 death rate is four times higher for Native Americans than it is for white Minnesotans.
"Once it's here ... why wait? Let's get it out there as quick as possible," said Bill Fisher, a spokesman for the Bemidji IHS region.
Other Minnesota health care providers planned to start vaccinations this week or next week, pending arrival of their shipments and the completion of state-required training in the handling and administration of a Pfizer vaccine that has a six-hour shelf life once it has been thawed and reconstituted with saline.
Pharmacy workers were taking selfies with the first box containing 975 doses that arrived at North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale Tuesday morning. Vaccinations will start there Monday.