We're really fucking up the vaccine rollout in Minnesota -- in essence what Sen Ann Rest

[progree]

DFL New Hope, District 45 is saying. From her constituent email newsletter dated Jan 24:

Last week MDH launched a program to allow people 65+ to sign up for appointments for the vaccine. It was a disaster. Some constituents or a family member were on the phone waiting for five hours only to get an appointment in Marshall or to be dropped completely. There is only one site in Hennepin County where 20 percent of Minnesota’s population lives. One local couple, feeling desperate, flew to Billings, Montana, for the vaccine and will return in four weeks for their second dose. Other states are doing what appears to be a much better job. Illinois started with an age threshold of 85+ and that seems to be working smoothly. So too are the programs in Georgia and North Carolina. Our system crashed, totally predictable. There may be reasons, but there is no excuse.

Emphasis added by Progree.

Personally, I'm extremely very mad as hell that people over age 65 are seemingly betting prioritized over, for example frontline dental workers. I'm over 65, but I would gladly, very gladly, give up my slot so my hygienist can get vaccinated. As I'm retired, and the only place I have to go is the grocery store, and even that is a choice.

And as she indicates, why not start with those 85+ first -- their fatality rate is much higher than say that of a 65-70 year old.

Background for out-of-staters reading this: DFL is what the Democratic Party in Minnesota is called. Our governor is a Democrat, as is Senator Rest.
MDH is the Minnesota Department of Health.
Marshall is way out in the toolies (the southwest corner of the state) while Hennepin County is Minneapolis and its suburbs and exurbs, all in the eastern part of the state.

[progree]

1. Minnesota, once middle-of-the-pack, has been sliding backwards in terms of its

per-capita vaccine doses administered - David H. Montgomery, MPR
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/01/24/latest-on-covid19-in-mn

[Cozmo]

2. This is why it is incumbent upon all to maintain safe practices. No one will keep us safe, but us

[progree]

3. Minnesotan Has Brazil P.1 COVID Variant, The First Known Case In US

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says the variant was detected in a Twin Cities resident who had recently traveled to the South American country. Officials say the variant is believed to spread quicker, but it is not clear if it is more severe or more lethal.

MDH has a program that conducts regular surveillance for variants, testing 50 random samples from University of Minnesota laboratories weekly. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the new finding underscores the importance of testing as well as continued efforts to limit the spread of the disease. ...

It makes sense that it would be first spotted in Minnesota, which has lab capabilities beyond those available in other states, Schaffner said. That means it may already be present elsewhere in the U.S., but simply hasn’t been identified yet, he said.

The CDC has reported at least 195 cases of the U.K. variant in the United States. Those reports have come from at least 22 states, including 8 in Minnesota

Scientists last week reported preliminary but troubling signs that some recent mutations may modestly curb the effectiveness of two current vaccines, although they stressed that the shots still protect against the disease. And there are signs that some of the new mutations may undermine tests for the virus and reduce the effectiveness of certain treatments. Some tests suggest the South African and Brazilian variants may be less susceptible to antibody drugs or antibody-rich blood from COVID-19 survivors, both of which help people fight off the virus.

More: https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/01/25/mdh-minnesotan-is-1st-known-us-patient-with-brazil-p-1-variant/