Minnesota Nears 80 Percent COVID-19 Vaccination Rate in Seniors

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the state of Minnesota is nearing its goal of vaccinating 80 percent of its senior population against COVID-19, having provided at least first doses as of this past weekend to 1.3 million, including 670,379 people 65 and older. Seniors were prioritized for vaccination, having suffered 89 percent of Minnesota's 6,777 deaths from the virus. The Minnesota Department of Health also disclosed 1,400 more infections, bringing the known case count to 504,273. State Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann last week said more-infectious variants of the virus have been associated with clusters of cases in the southwest metropolitan, Mankato, and the East Range in northern Minnesota. Continued vaccination could decelerate the variants' spread and the development of new mutations, but health officials urged continued mask-wearing and social distancing to reduce chances for transmission. Minnesota has now reached 2,143,348 total doses administered.