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.
Dakota County Public Health vaccinations
All Minnesotans 12 years of age and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
Individuals are only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot or two weeks after the second dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine series.
Language interpreters are available at the clinic to assist you or a loved one. We can assist in all languages.
Things to remember:
- The vaccine is free.
- Second dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are guaranteed.
- Check with on-site staff to confirm what time and place your second shot will be given.
For people under 18 years old:
- People ages 12–17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine. Clinics will indicate what vaccine will be used.
- To get vaccinated by Dakota County Public Health, children under age 18 must:
- Come to a COVID-19 clinic with a parent or legal guardian.
- The adult must give consent that the child can be vaccinated.
Hints for scheduling:
- Use Google Chrome for best results.
- Do not use the filter options — scroll down and all appointments will be listed.
- Using a desktop computer works best.
Make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment
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State of Minnesota vaccinations
The State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health are hosting vaccine clinics across the state and vaccinating people 12 years and older based on CDC guidance.
Walk-ins for people under 18 years old are accepted at state community vaccination sites in Bloomington (Mall of America), Saint Paul (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), Lino Lakes and Oakdale.
To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit the Minnesota Vaccine Connector website or call 1-833-431-2053.
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.
One shot and two shot vaccines
Make sure you know which COVID-19 vaccine you are getting. There are currently one-shot and two-shot vaccines. For both one shot and two shot vaccines, you will not be considered fully protected until two weeks after your last shot. It is still important to follow safety rules, like wearing a mask and staying 6 feet away from people in public spaces.
- Moderna and Pfizer: These vaccines are two-shot vaccines. Two-shot (or two-dose) vaccines will require you to get one shot originally and a second shot 3 to 4 weeks later. If you get Moderna the first time, you need to get Moderna for the second shot. You cannot mix vaccines. It is very important with two-shot vaccines to get both shots.
- Johnson and Johnson: This is a one-shot vaccine. You do not need to get a second shot.
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 companies in the United States: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. They have been tested and found to both prevent COVID-19 and reduce symptoms for those that get the virus.
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: