Minnesota pharmacies ask to be included in COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Addressing a Minnesota Senate health committee recently, Minnesota Pharmacists Association Executive Director Sarah Derr said nearly 560 pharmacies in the state have registered to be vaccine providers. She said, “Pharmacies are currently a little frustrated as they have not heard of any plans … in contrast to pharmacies in other parts of the country.” North Mankato is one of nine sites in the state that will start administering vaccines to about 12,000 people, including some educators and child-care workers, starting January 21. As of January 20, 200,840 Minnesotans have been vaccinated against COVID-19. A state tracking website shows that approximately 40% of the nearly 597,000 doses delivered to health care providers and long-term care facilities have been used. Officials hope to eventually increase the number of community vaccination sites as the federal government allocates more doses to the state.