Amy Caron, Dodge-Steele CHS Administrator, and Dodge and Steele Counties Public Health Director explained that Dodge County Public Health is receiving limited doses of the Moderna Vaccine (COVID-19 Vaccine) each week.

She said, “We have been holding Vaccine Clinics on a weekly basis for the past couple of months. The Minnesota Department of Health tells us whom we can vaccinate during each phase of the vaccine rollout. On March 9, Governor Walz announced that we are now ready to move to new phases which qualifies more people to be able to receive the vaccine.”

She further explained how to sign up for the vaccine if you are in one of the qualified categories.

On the Public Health website, a little after noon every Friday, there will be links for individuals to sign up for vaccine appointment slots for the following week’s clinics.

Caron said, “If you qualify and would like a vaccine, please go to our web page and sign up for an appointment. We realize these appointments will fill up fast, so if you do not get in next week, please keep checking each Friday for availability. Thank you for your patience and support during this process.”

https://www.co.dodge.mn.us/departments/public_health.php

This is who qualifies as of March 9:

• Minnesotans aged 65 or older
• Health care workers and people working at health care facilities, first responders who provide direct patient care as part of the EMS system, and primary caregivers for people with complex medical needs or disabilities
• Long-term care residents and staff members at long-term care facilities in Minnesota
• Pre-kindergarten through Adult Basic and Community Education school staff members, or contracted school staff members, at schools in Minnesota
• Childcare staff members at licensed and certified childcare centers or programs in Minnesota
• People with specific underlying health conditions, including Sickle cell disease, Down Syndrome, or oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions, and those who are in active cancer treatment or immunocompromised from organ transplant.
• Targeted essential workers in food processing plants
• People with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk
• People age 45 and older with ONE or more underlying medical conditions; or, age 16 and over with TWO or more underlying medical conditions
• People 50+ in multi-generational housing

Essential frontline workers including: Agricultural, airport staff, additional childcare workers not previously eligible, workers in correctional settings, first responders, workers in food production, food retail and food service, judicial system workers, those in manufacturing, public health workers, those in public transit, and Postal Service workers.

Please visit this link for more details about these qualifications.

https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/whos-getting-vaccinated/vaccinated.jsp