[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visited a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the HmongTown Marketplace in Saint Paul to highlight the State’s successful efforts to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for all Minnesotans. The mobile vaccination units have hosted 70 events in partnership with community organizations since April 12, 2021, providing over 2,500 vaccines to Minnesotans in communities with demonstrated need for increased access to vaccinations. Photos from the event are attached.

“Minnesota has led the country in distributing vaccine quickly, and appointments are now widely available for any eligible Minnesotan who wants to be vaccinated. But we also know that barriers to vaccination still exist for communities across the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “I’m grateful to all the partners who have made these mobile vaccination events happen. Together, we’re making sure everyone in Minnesota has the opportunity to be vaccinated by bringing the vaccine right to them.”

Minnesota’s mobile vaccination units are being deployed to sites that include low income and multi-family housing sites, homeless service providers, disability service providers, community centers, faith centers, farms and agricultural sites, food assistance sites, and cultural markets.

According to the state’s community partners:

• 48 percent of the mobile clinics serve persons experiencing homelessness.
• 43 percent of the mobile clinics serve newer immigrant and refugee communities.
• 52 percent of the mobile clinics serve persons with disabilities.
• 100 percent of the mobile clinics serve people in their community who would not otherwise have access to the COVID 19 vaccine.
• 100 percent of the mobile clinics report that the mobile vaccination clinic “helped fill a gap to access to COVID 19 vaccines.”

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Metro Transit, the Metropolitan Council, and Minnesota Department of Transportation have partnered to bring mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics to communities throughout the state. Minnesota is using state demographic data, vaccination data, testing data, and input from trusted community partners, local public health, and MDH equity leadership to select clinic locations. Focus communities for the mobile vaccination units are under-resourced communities identified using the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. In addition, community partners can fill out the MDH Community Vaccination Event Request Form to request a mobile vaccine unit.