Through a new partnership between the State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings, approximately 13,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be administered starting this week at the TCO Performance Center.
“This partnership with the Minnesota Vikings helps us move the ball down the field in the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor Tim Walz in a press release. “This one-and-done vaccine is safe, highly effective, and helps us more quickly provide immunity to Minnesotans including to our courageous health care providers and our older neighbors.”
The doses will be administered to health care workers and adults 65 years of age or older.
“The TCO Performance Center event is another example of a growing vaccine network in Minnesota,” added Governor Walz. “With more than 1.4 million doses administered to nearly 930,000 Minnesotans, broad community vaccination is in sight and a return to normalcy is within reach. We are looking forward to being in the stands for high school football under the Friday night lights, the Gophers dominating on Saturdays, and the Vikings winning on Sundays this fall. When vaccine supply from the federal meets demand, partnerships like this with the Vikings will help push us over the goal line in the battle against COVID-19.”
Excited to greet the *very* welcome arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Minnesota!
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) March 3, 2021
It means we can move even more quickly to provide protection and end this pandemic. If you have the opportunity to get a shot, take it. pic.twitter.com/RMR0MQSZ7q
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved on February 27 by the Food and Drug Administration through an Emergency Authorization.
Dr. David Hilden at Hennepin Healthcare applauded Thursday's announcement during the WCCO Radio Morning News with Dave Lee.
"This is exactly how we need to do this," Dr. Hilden said. "We now have three very good vaccines. The good thing about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is you don't need it in an Antarctic freezer to cold the thing. It stays stable in a regular refrigerator, it's one dose, and there's a lot of good to be said about this thing."
Dr. Hilden told WCCO Radio's Sheletta Brundidge that he hopes to see the state open more community vaccination events statewide.
"If they can do these events, I'm all in for that. They should do these all across the state and get the vaccine into everyone's arm who wants one."
The Eagan vaccination event joins five other community vaccination sites in Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington and Saint Paul.
For more on Minnesota's COVID-19 vaccination efforts, click here.
