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Minnesota Department of Health

September 14, 2022

Minnesota News and Outreach

Updated Bivalent Boosters Now Available

Bivalent vaccines are updated booster vaccines that protect against the original strain of COVID-19 and the Omicron variants currently circulating (BA.4 and BA.5). Updated COVID-19 boosters can both help restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination and provide broader protection against newer variants.

People age 12 and older are now recommended to get an updated bivalent booster dose at least 2 months after their final primary series dose or last booster shot.

• The updated Pfizer booster is authorized for people age 12 and older.
• The updated Moderna booster is authorized for people age 18 and older.
• Everyone who is eligible—including those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised—are recommended to receive one dose of the updated vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster are safe and help protect people from getting very sick with COVID-19.

People can get COVID-19 vaccines, including updated boosters, at the same visit as other vaccines, such as flu vaccine.

To have the best protection against COVID-19, you should make sure you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. For more information, visit CDC: Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters.

Where to Get a Bivalent Booster

There are several options for where to get a bivalent booster.

• Check with your regular health care provider or local pharmacy to see if appointments are available.
• Minnesotans can make appointments at state-run vaccination sites:
  • Mall of America Community Vaccination Site
  • Duluth (DECC) Community Vaccination Site
  • Moorhead Community Vaccination Site
  • Rochester Community Vaccination Site
  • Bivalent boosters will also be available next week at the St. Paul Midway location where COVID-19 testing is available.
• Use the state’s Find Vaccine Locations map to find vaccine providers near you. Providers will update their information as appointments are available.
• Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
• Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at other community locations around Minnesota.

Learn More about Bivalent Vaccines

• About COVID-19 Vaccine
• COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
• COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Teens
• Appointments for bivalent booster vaccines available at state-run Mall of America and Duluth vaccination sites
• Appointments for bivalent booster vaccines available at state-run vaccination sites in Moorhead and Rochester

• Governor Walz: Minnesota is Ready to Provide Updated Booster Shots

• CDC Recommends the First Updated COVID-19 Booster

Order More Free At-Home Rapid Tests

Minnesotans can now order additional free COVID-19 rapid at-home tests through the state’s online ordering program. Every home in Minnesota is eligible to order up to 12 tests for free, while supplies last. Order Your Free At-Home Rapid Tests!

The at-home rapid tests available for order:

• Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
• Can be taken anywhere
• Give results within 15 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
• Work whether or not you have COVID-⁠19 symptoms
• Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-⁠19 vaccines
• Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests

People using the test kits should follow testing instructions from the manufacturer.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Materials

We are adding new videos, print materials, and translated documents often. Check out the pages below to view, download, or print these resources.

Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response Videos for COVID-19 Response

Visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for up-to-date information and follow MDH on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

What's New

COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership

COVID-19 Stories of Community Outreach and Partnership highlight the efforts of our staff in collaboration with community partners during the COVID-19 response. Some stories provide insight into how this work is done, others discuss what challenges our teams face, but all of them recognize how COVID-19 has pushed MDH to try new strategies so we can fulfill our mission of protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans.

Mirror Image: The value of lived experience

When Luis Rosario walked into Shiloh Temple’s Health and Wellness Fair, his lived experience was the most important thing he could have brought with him. Luis is one of nine people spearheading the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Community Vaccination Team. The team’s primary focus is to bring COVID-19 vaccination events to trusted community spaces and have candid conversations with the community about the available vaccines. As Luis says, his mission is to “connect with, not convince” community members to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Luis wears many hats; however, he serves mainly as a vaccine clinic manager and a liaison between the Community Vaccination Team and MDH’s COVID-19 Community Coordinators and Community Engagement teams.  Vaccine clinic managers facilitate and oversee logistical needs, staffing, and preparation of culturally appropriate educational resources. Since 2021, the Community Vaccination Team has hosted 1,039 events in partnership with 59 community partners to vaccinate over 71,000 community members.

Read more: Mirror Image: The value of lived experience

COVIDaware MN

The COVIDaware MN exposure notification app was recently updated to allow people to get a verification code and alert other users of a possible exposure if they tested positive for COVID-19 with a self-test.

COVIDaware MN is a free tool that works on smartphones. It alerts users if they may have been exposed to COVID-19. COVIDaware MN does not share any personal information. It is completely private and doesn't know who you are, or track where you go.

Participation is entirely voluntary. Users can opt in or out at any time. For more information about how user privacy is protected, refer to the COVIDaware MN System Privacy Policy.

Guidance and Resources

NEW:

• Mirror Image: The value of lived experience
  COVID-19 Story of Community Outreach and Partnership

UPDATED:

• If You Are Sick or Test Positive: COVID-19

• Close Contact or Exposure to COVID-19

• COVID-19 Self-testing
• About COVID-19 Vaccine
• Available COVID-19 Vaccines and Safety
• COVID-19 Vaccine Providers
• COVID-19 Primary Series and Booster Vaccination Guidance
• Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination
• Interim COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guide (PDF)
• COVID-19 Medications
• Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Patients
• COVID-19 Medications: Evusheld (PDF)
• COVID-19 Community Engagement Webinars

NOTE: Look for an "Updated" date below guidance links on our website to know when the resource was last revised.

MDH COVID-19 Public Hotline

For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call:

1-833-431-2053

Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To connect directly to a representative in American Sign Language, click the "ASL Now" button on Contact Us: COVID-19 Questions.

Minnesota Department of Health  |  health.mn.gov

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