A vaccine for COVID-19 can help protect you and reduce the spread of the disease. Information on the COVID-19 vaccine is quickly changing. Check back on this page often for updates. For more information, see the
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions.
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Dakota County Public Health vaccinations
Dakota County Public Health recently began moving into Phase 1B. Phases are different depending on your county and community. Dakota County is now opening vaccination appointments to pre-K through grade 12 educators and child care workers who work in Dakota County as well as continuing to vaccinate those in Phase 1A.
At this time, Dakota County Public Health is only vaccinating the groups below. The approved organizations must be located within Dakota County.
Phase 1B
- Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (including adult basic and community education) school staff members or contracted school staff members who work in Dakota County schools
- Child care staff members at licensed and certified child care centers and programs who work in Dakota County
Phase 1A
- People working in health care settings in Dakota County (doctors, nurses, etc.)
- People who provide direct care in Dakota County (firefighters, school nurses, dentists, mental health workers, etc.)
- People who work or live in long-term care, assisted-living facilities and congregate care facilities in Dakota County
All Dakota County vaccination appointments are by invitation only and will require ID/paystub confirmation. You must bring a company/school ID (or paystub) showing your association with the approved Dakota County organization to get into the vaccination clinic. If you do not bring documentation, your appointment may be canceled. If you are in one of the groups above, check with your employer or facility on how to get invited for an appointment.
***Appointment links should not be shared with others and may lead to appointment cancellations.***
At this time, the only people who can receive the vaccine from Dakota County Public Health are in the groups listed above.
Older adults, teachers and child care being vaccinated by state
At this time, Dakota County Public Health is not vaccinating anyone other than those listed in the section above.
Minnesota is expanding access to COVID-19 vaccinations through pharmacies and hospitals across the state for those aged 65 and over. Specifically, the state is reallocating an additional 8,000 doses for Walgreens to vaccinate adults age 65 and older. Additionally, the state will participate in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, in which Walmart and Thrifty White will administer more than 16,000 doses to adults age 65 and older across the state.
You can visit the Find My Vaccine website to find locations and contact information for scheduling appointments at Walgreens, Walmart, Thrifty White, as well as other hospitals and clinics. For more information, call 833-431-2053 or visit the State of Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine page.
If you are an educator or child care worker, please do not attempt to make an appointment unless you are notified by your employer that you've been selected to receive a vaccine.
Next in line for vaccine
Medical experts and community partners are finalizing a plan to reduce serious sickness and death as well as make the vaccination process fair for all communities.
The Minnesota Department of Health will continue to communicate about vaccine availability as future phases are determined.
Eventually, all Minnesotans who want to be vaccinated will be able to do so. It just won't be right away for everyone. No one will be required to get the vaccine by the government or public health.
Learn about the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine will be free
The COVID-19 vaccine will be offered at no cost to you. If someone is asking you to pay with a credit card, bank information or cash, it's a scam. The vaccine will be available from many places, like health care providers; vaccine clinics operated by public health departments, community health centers; and at pharmacies.
First vaccines in two shots
The first available COVID-19 vaccines will be a series of two shots. It will require you to get one shot, and then a second shot 3–4 weeks later. It is very important to get both shots to be fully protected.
To make sure you get the right shots in the correct order, get your second shot the same place you got the first one.
To remind yourself when to get the second dose, use the
v-safe app.
V-safe is an app where you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information.
The vaccine is safe
The first COVID-19 vaccines have been developed by two companies in the United States: Pfizer and Moderna. They have been tested and found to prevent COVID-19 in more than 90 percent of people given the vaccine — a very high rate of effectiveness.
The COVID-19 vaccines that are approved all met strict trial and safety standards. For example, the number of people in COVID-19 vaccine trials is the same as trials for other vaccines in recent years, and they include people from diverse backgrounds.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines received
emergency use authorization (EUA). All vaccines that receive EUA have been strictly tested and continue to receive ongoing safety monitoring.
These vaccines were created quickly because scientists around the world had new technology and a lot of research to build upon. Companies made the vaccine more quickly because the federal government paid for large portions of the work.
The COVID-19 vaccine will be continually studied for side effects and other reporting. If you receive the vaccine, you can help researchers by downloading the v-safe app to report any side effects. For more information on how the vaccines work, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines page.
Additional resources
Everyone should continue to educate themselves about the COVID-19 vaccine. Below are some additional COVID-19 vaccine resources to consider: