Thread by @Stowydad

NEW: Minnesota in line for 183,400 #COVID19 1st month vaccine kits.
"I caution all of us that this is going to take time and patience," @GovTimWalz says "You need to feel comfortable where the state is coming from. You need to feel comfortable with the safety around the vaccine."

Walz cautions the number could shift. That would be enough for about 90,000 vaccinations (each vaccine requires two doses spread over three weeks).

MN Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm: “We do know even with these initial relatively few doses we know we will not give as much vaccine as we know is needed" for priority groups.

She says it could be six months before the vaccine is in wide distribution.

Health care personnel in 1st priority group:
-Hospital staff working in dedicated #COVID19 units, ICU, ERs, COVID urgent care
-Long-term care personnel
-EMS personnel
-COVID testers
-COVID community vaccinators

Also in 1A are residents of skilled nursing facilities, vets homes.

Phase 1A total population is about 500,000, says MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann.

She says that's why the state had to "sub-prioritize" based on risk of infection, risk of severe morbidity, risk of transmitting to others, risk of negative societal impact.

Second priority group:
-Other health care personnel in hospitals providing direct patient care.
-urgent care personnel not in 1st phase
-Dialysis center staff
Residents in housing with home care (assisted living)

Third priority group:
-All health care personnel not in 1 or 2 that can't -telecommute.
-Adult residents of intermediate care facilities for individuals with disabilities and other adult residents living in licensed residential care.

Vaccine will go directly to providers. It's not designed to sit long in warehouses.

Minnesota will have 25 vaccine distribution hubs that will feed 118 spokes.