Minnesota health officials on Saturday reported a single-day high of more than 85,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, but concerns remain about the rising number of cases across the state.
At least 1,770,290 Minnesotans have received one dose of a COVID vaccine, and 1,129,863 have completed their vaccinations. All told, 85,573 vaccine doses were reported in the Minnesota Department of Health's (MDH) Saturday update.
"Every dose brings us closer to our goal of crushing COVID-19," state Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann said in an e-mail Saturday. "We are really pleased at the interest and uptake of vaccine to date."
Access to the vaccine was expanded last week to all 4.4 million Minnesotans 16 and older as doses were available at health care facilities, grocery stores, pharmacies and community sites throughout the state.
To date, about 32% of the state's population has received a first dose, about 20% have completed a vaccine series, and 82% of the state's seniors 65 and older have gotten an initial shot.
The goal, Ehresmann noted, is to get at least 80% of the state's population vaccinated.
"While we are celebrating how far we have already come, we still have a way to go," she said.
A shipment of 80,000 doses of the single-dose COVID-19 Johnson & Johnson vaccine is expected in Minnesota this week.
