HealthPartners President and CEO Andrea Walsh - Statement on Safely and Equitably Accelerating COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Feb. 25, 2021 – BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – “We know how important it is to offer vaccination to every Minnesotan. We know firsthand what a toll COVID-19 has taken on Minnesotans, our families, businesses, schools and our health care system.

We are proud to be part of a 10-system consortium dedicated to partnering with the state, regional coalitions, local pharmacies and public health to get vaccinations done. Supply of vaccine still needs to catch up with the demand but we are making some important progress as a State.

We appreciate that the Governor has sought the combined clinical and scientific expertise of Minnesota’s health systems, along with that of the CDC, in setting out today’s new guidelines. We hope supply will allow us to move fast and meet the timeline outlined by Gov. Walz.

Our health systems are working together for what we all want: Every Minnesotan vaccinated – as quickly, as safely and as equitably as possible. We will get there. We’ve seen our progress in Minnesota accelerate in the past few weeks and there’s good reason for optimism.”

Progress on Vaccinations

“As we make our way to that day, all health systems’ top priority is to limit deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19. We’re making great headway in vaccinating those most at risk – our oldest Minnesotans.

As of yesterday, more than 43 percent of Minnesotans aged 65 and older have been vaccinated. Each health system is taking special steps to reach out to our elderly patients of color, recognizing there may be hesitancy to getting a vaccine.

Now, vaccine supply continues to open up as approved manufacturers scale up more production and new vaccines gain approval. We are ready for more.

As a coalition we are currently administering about 7,800 doses of vaccine a day. We have current capacity to administer 20,000 and could double that capacity if we had the allocation from the federal government.

What we need is more vaccine getting to our clinics. We are working closely with the State to do everything we can to get access to more vaccine.”

Power in Partnership

“Every stage of this pandemic has been difficult and there haven’t been a lot of simple answers to the challenges we face. Partnership continues to be our way through. I’m grateful to the health systems of Minnesota for coming together as one – to bring our best thinking to bear on behalf of every Minnesotan. And I’m grateful to the Governor and his team for our continued partnership.”