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Minnesota Department of Health

December 1, 2022

Minnesota News and Outreach

Updated (Bivalent) Booster

As we approach the holidays, it is more important than ever that you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations to keep yourself, your family, and your communities safe from severe illness or hospitalization from COVID-19.

Everyone 5 and older should get an updated COVID-19 booster shot. StaySafeMN

The updated COVID-19 booster provides the best level of protection against severe cases of COVID-19.?This booster was made to fight strains of COVID-19 that are more commonly circulating through our communities right now (Omicron BA.4 and BA.5). Previous shots were effective for fighting serious illness and hospitalization against the original strain of COVID-19, but they were not specifically targeted to the strains we face today.

Everyone age 5 and older should get an updated booster when eligible.
Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about the updated booster and when to get it. You can find more information, including places to get your free updated booster, on COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots.

A new one pager on bivalent boosters is now available to help explain why this updated vaccine is important to get:?Why You Should Get an Updated (Bivalent) Booster (PDF).

Why You Should Get an Updated (Bivalent) Booster fact sheet
  • It protects against the original COVID-19 strain as well as newer variants.
  • It helps keep protection against COVID-19 high.
  • It provides the best protection against severe cases of COVID-19.

Translations are in the works and will be posted on Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response: Vaccine as soon as they are available.


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

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 Treatment

People 50 or older or who have a chronic medical condition are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. If you test positive, even if your symptoms are mild, talk to your health care provider right away to see if treatment is right for you.

Test to treat locations are also available around the state where you can get tested, talk to a health care provider, and potentially receive the medication all in one location.

Learn more at?COVID-19 Medications?and?Minnesota COVID-19 Response: Treatments.

Medications are available for people who test positive and are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19

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.

An Olympic Achievement: Getting COVID-19 Vaccines to the Disability Community

This past summer, many Minnesotans were able to celebrate the return of music and food festivals, neighborhood nights, and for some, the Special Olympics, which stopped for the last few years because of COVID-19. The Special Olympics provides Olympic-style sports training competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Since 1973, the Special Olympics has created space for people in the community to build their physical fitness, partake in competitive sports with other athletes, and convene the community for athletic events. This summer, Special Olympics Minnesota hosted a weekend of competition with over 2,200 athletes, coaches, and partners in Stillwater.

Two people standing in front of State of Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccines banner

Special Olympics provided MDH with an outdoor space in their main event area and MDH was able to set up a tent and COVID-19 vaccination stations and bring in a medical team. MDH also partnered with the Minnesota Disability Law Center and Stairstep Foundation, one of MDH?s COVID Community Coordinator organizations, and were able to vaccinate 41 people with either a primary series dose of the vaccine or a booster. MDH also offered free COVID-19 tests and masks to anyone interested.?

Read more:?
An Olympic Achievement: Getting COVID-19 Vaccines to the Disability Community


Guidance and Resources

NEW:

UPDATED:

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.


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