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*Minnesota Department of Health*

"October 17, 2022"

Minnesota News and Outreach

*Updated Bivalent Boosters Now Recommended for Kids 5-11*

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 5 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 5 and older.
* The updated Moderna booster is authorized for people age 6 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.

Learn more at CDC Expands Updated COVID-19 Vaccines to Include Children Ages 5 Through 11 [ [link removed] ].

*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 [ [link removed] ]
* St. Paul Midway Community Vaccination Site [ [link removed] ]
* Duluth (DECC) Community Vaccination Site [ [link removed] ]
* Moorhead Community Vaccination Site [ [link removed] ]
* Rochester Community Vaccination Site [ [link removed] ]

* Use the state’s Find Vaccine Locations [ [link removed] ] map to find vaccine providers near you. Providers will update their information as appointments are available.
* Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov [ [link removed] ], where you can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
* Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at other community locations around Minnesota.
Vaccinated? You may be eligible for a booster shot.________________________________________________________________________

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.

COVID-19 Translated Materials [ [link removed] ]

Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response [ [link removed] ]

Videos for COVID-19 Response [ [link removed] ]



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



What's New

Close Contact or Exposure to COVID-19

If you spend time close to someone who has COVID-19, you could get it too. It’s important to take steps to protect yourself & others after exposure, like wearing a mask and getting tested. If you have close contact with someone who has COVID-19, follow the steps below and get more information at Close Contact or Exposure to COVID-19 [ [link removed] ].

*Wear a high quality and well-fitting mask for 10 full days* when you are indoors and around others, even at home. The 10 days start the day after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19. The day of your last close contact is counted as day zero. The day you can stop wearing a mask is day 11.

*Watch for symptoms for 10 full days* after your last close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Symptoms can include fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath. For a complete list of symptoms, visit CDC: Symptoms of COVID-19 [ [link removed] ].

*Test on day six, if possible. *Visit COVID-19 Testing [ [link removed] ] for detailed information about where you can get tested and what kinds of tests are available.

Timeline for those not needing to quarantine showing 10 days with a mask and getting tested on day 6, watch for symptoms.

*Things to avoid*


* Avoid people who are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe disease and settings where people at higher risk live or gather, such as long-term care facilities. If this is not possible, take extra precautions to protect yourself and others [ [link removed] ]. For information on people at higher risk, refer to CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions [ [link removed] ].
* Avoid travel. If you must travel, wear a high-quality and well-fitting mask.
* Avoid places where you need to remove your mask (e.g., gyms, restaurants).

*If you get symptoms, stay home and away from others (isolate) as soon as you notice them and test [ [link removed] ] right away for COVID-19.* This includes people who are vaccinated or who had COVID-19 in the past. For more information, refer to If You Are Sick or Test Positive: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ].

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COVID-19 Medications

People who test positive for COVID-19 and are at higher risk of becoming very sick may benefit from available COVID-19 medications. There are two ways to get COVID-19 medications if you are at higher risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19.


* Talk to a health care provider to learn if you qualify for COVID-19 medication and where to get it.
* Find Test to Treat locations that offer COVID-19 testing and free medication at one location.

COVID-19 medications must be started within five to seven days of symptoms starting to work best. Learn more:


*

COVID-19 Medications [ [link removed] ]
Information on who can get medications to prevent or treat COVID-19 and how to access them.


* Medications to Treat COVID-19 (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
Handout with information on getting medications, test to treat options, and costs.
* Where to Access Oral Antiviral Therapy in Minnesota: Test-to-Treat program [ [link removed] ]

Some people have conditions or are on medications that weaken their immune system and may not respond to a COVID-19 vaccine. Evusheld is a monoclonal antibody therapy that can help to protect them from COVID-19. Evusheld is not for the treatment of symptoms due to COVID-19 and is not given following an exposure to someone with COVID-19; it is given to prevent infection before an exposure. Talk to your health care provider and learn more about Evusheld at COVID-19 Medications: Evusheld (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) [ [link removed] ].

*COVID-19 medications are not a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination.* It is still recommended that everyone who is eligible get vaccinated and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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Updated Guidance and Resources

* Protect Yourself & Others: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]
* Close Contact or Exposure to COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]
Translated in other languages
* What to do if you have COVID-19 (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
Other languages available on If You Are Sick or Test Positive: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Vaccine Basics (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
Other languages available on Materials & Resources: Vaccine [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth with Special Needs or Disabilities: Information for Caregivers (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
Other languages available on Materials & Resources: Vaccine [ [link removed] ]
* Getting Vaccinated for COVID-19 (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
Other languages available on About COVID-19 Vaccine: More information [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Vaccine Providers: Forms and templates [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Primary Series and Booster Vaccination Guidance [ [link removed] ]
* Interim COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guide (PDF) [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Medications [ [link removed] ]
* Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Patients [ [link removed] ] 
* Where to Access Oral Antiviral Therapy in Minnesota [ [link removed] ]
* Long-term Care: COVID-19 [ [link removed] ]
* COVID-19 Response Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education (PDF) [ [link removed] ]

CDC has recently updated their Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel [ [link removed] ]. MDH is working to review the CDC guidance and update our documents as appropriate.

*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 [ [link removed] ].




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