[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today Governor Walz announced that the first Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses have arrived in Minnesota and met one of the first shipments to arrive in the state. Minnesota will receive 45,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. Immunizations will begin shortly after doses arrive to Minnesota providers.

“This is an exciting development. We now have three vaccines available that are safe and highly effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death,” said Governor Walz. “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help our state quickly provide immunity and get us one step closer to ending this pandemic. We know we need broad community protection before we can get back to the normal, enjoyable parts of life we have missed, and the way we get there is by getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. Everyone who has the opportunity to get this shot should take it.”

“It is exciting to welcome a third safe and highly effective vaccine to Minnesota,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “As a single-dose vaccine that does not require ultra-cold storage, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will help us quickly immunize even more Minnesotans. These life-saving vaccines will be the way we end this pandemic, and we will make sure all communities in Minnesota have fair and equitable access to all safe and effective vaccines. Every Minnesotan should get vaccinated at the first opportunity available to them. Today is a good day.”

Minnesota is already a national leader in getting shots into arms. As of Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control ranks Minnesota 3rd among states for the percentage of doses received that have been administered.

Minnesota providers have administered more than 1.4 million doses to almost 930,000 Minnesotans. More than 54% of Minnesotans 65 and older and 56% of K-12 educators and child care workers have gotten at least their first dose.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is an excellent option for Minnesotans. In clinical trials, it was highly effective in preventing serious illness and completely effective in preventing hospitalizations and death due to COVID-19,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “Minnesotans should be confident that every authorized vaccine is safe and effective, and we encourage everyone to get whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available to them.”