A very significant message was delivered by the State of Minnesota on the morning of March 26th, “As of March 30, all Minnesotans 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine. Minnesota has directed providers to prioritize vaccine appointments for people most at risk of getting COVID-19, or those who could develop severe illness if infected. This includes older Minnesotans, those with underlying health conditions*, and those in essential jobs.”

To emphasize, even though all Minnesotans over the age of 16 are now allowed to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, providers have been advised to protect people under Phase 1 initially.

Phase 1a suggests that healthcare personnel and long term care residents and staff should be top-priority in receiving their shot.

Next, Phase 1b-tier 1 consists of people exceeding the age of 64, child care employees, and E-12 education staff.

Then, Phase 1b-tier 2 includes Minnesotans who make their income in food-processing facilities, have a disability, or are diagnosed with a rare condition. Alongside these priority groups are people aged 16+ who live with any of these specified diseases: Sickle cell, Down Syndrome, active cancer treatment, immunocompromised from organ transplant, oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions.

Thereafter Phase 1b-tier 2 is Phase 1b-tier 3. Essential frontline workers, people aged 45-64 years old with one or more underlying medical conditions, those who are 16-44 years old with two or more underlying medical conditions, and residents of multi-generational homes who are over 50 years of age are sorted into this tier.

Finally, the state identifies the people that fit into Phase 1b-tier 4 and Phase 1c, “Minnesotans 16 years of age and older with any underlying medical condition…Minnesotans age 50-64 (regardless of health condition)…All other essential workforces…Transportation and logistics, finance, housing/shelter construction, IT/communications, energy, media, legal, public safety, water, and wastewater.”

According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), active cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, immunocompromised, obesity, pregnancy, Sickle cell disease, Type 1 diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes are the underlying medical conditions that they reference throughout Phase 1. It is equally necessary to note that, at this time, 16 and 17-year-olds may only acquire the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. A document assembled by the MDH entitled, “Minnesota Guidance for Allocating and Prioritizing See VACCINE Page 8