The Minneapolis Health Department is facing a difficult situation after losing federal COVID-19 funds.
When the federal government terminated $226 million in grants to the Minnesota Department of Health last month, it also halted work at the free vaccine clinics operated by the Minneapolis Health Department.
Luisa Pessoa-Brandao manages the city department and says what most concerns her is that it's prevented them from fulfilling childhood vaccinations.
"That's childhood vaccinations that may not happen and that is going to impact our vaccination rates and we already are not where we would want to be with most childhood vaccinations," says Brandao.
The move has closed down a total of 21 Minneapolis-based vaccine clinics and as of September 2024, 30% of Minneapolis's 6-year-olds were still missing their basic childhood vaccinations.
"It was a shock, and so we're reeling a little bit and we are trying to now go back and figure out how to how to do that still, to do some planning and how can we maintain," says Brandao.
The clinics that provide COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, and MPOX vaccines. Last year, the clinics provided hundreds of vaccinations in under-served communities.
In 2024, the Minneapolis Health Department partnered with community organizations to hold 87 vaccine clinics in underserved communities.
“The impact on our community is substantial. We are canceling five free vaccine clinics scheduled for April, and the future of our vaccine services in underserved communities is uncertain," said Commissioner Damōn Chaplin, Minneapolis Health Department. “Decisions at the federal level threaten public health now and in the future.”