What you need to know about vaccinations in St. Louis, Carlton, Douglas, Itasca counties
Feb. 27—Common questions
When the second dose is needed: Second-dose appointments are scheduled with first appointments. Second Pfizer-BioNTech dose needed 21 days after the first. Second Moderna dose needed 28 days after the first.
Vaccine priority groups in Minnesota:
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Phase 1a — Still vaccinating some people (all health care workers, long-term care facilities, those who are EMS-certified).
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Phase 1b — Partially underway. Ages 65 and older and "essential workers." The only essential workers receiving vaccines are pre-K-12 school staff and licensed child care workers. The state advisory group determining the full Phase 1b plan has yet to release who will be included.
Vaccine priority groups in Wisconsin:
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Phase 1a — Still vaccinating people. Frontline health care workers; long-term care facility residents; ages 65 and older; and fire, police and correctional staff are eligible.
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Phase 1b — Begins March 1. Priority groups will be, in order, will be: education and child care staff; individuals enrolled in Medicaid long-term care programs; some public-facing essential workers; non-frontline essential health care personnel; and facility staff and residents in congregate living settings. Educators and child care providers should receive vaccine in March and early April. Remaining groups will be vaccinated in April and May.
Who's administering in Minnesota and Wisconsin: Local public health, hospitals, the state, tribal government and pharmacies.
Where to get vaccinated: People ages 65 and older who don't live in the same county or state as their primary care provider can still get a vaccine through their hospital. Those getting vaccines through a county public health department must either live or work in the respective county. To find a list of all the vaccine provider locations in Minnesota, visit mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations. For Wisconsin vaccine provider locations, visit dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-map.htm.
Minnesota launched the Vaccine Connector on Feb. 18. All Minnesota residents, regardless of current eligibility, are encouraged to sign up by calling 833-431-2053 or visiting mn.gov/vaccineconnector. This list will be used to select Minnesotans for vaccine appointments from now on. Anyone already on a state waitlist does not need to register again.
St. Louis County
Hospitals
St. Luke's in Duluth: Ages 65 and older and people in Phase 1a. Existing patients should use myCare portal at slhduluth.com/mycare. A button will be available to schedule a vaccine as supplies allow. Hospital will call patients with high-risk conditions to schedule; do not call. Using Pfizer vaccine. Vaccine clinic at St. Luke's hospital, Duluth. By appointment only. Info at slhduluth.com/covidvaccine.
Essentia Health in Duluth, Virginia, Ely and Aurora: Ages 65 and older and people in Phase 1a. Existing patients should register through myChart portal at essentiamyhealth.org. Patients chosen randomly. Only open to existing patients. Patients are called if they don't have myChart; do not call. Using both Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. By appointment only. Info at essentiahealth.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information.
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Essentia mobile vaccine clinic — Organizations in Phase 1a that need assistance administering vaccines can request at essentiahealth.org.
Fairview Range Medical Center in Hibbing: Health care workers and ages 75 and older. To schedule an appointment visit mhealthfairview.org/covid19/covid19-vaccine.
Pharmacies
Thrifty White in Hibbing, Hoyt Lakes and Virginia: Ages 65 and older. Do not need to be a pharmacy customer. Schedule an appointment at thriftywhite.com/covid19vaccine. If no appointments are available people can join waitlist to be notified when they open. If the location is not listed, there are no openings.
Walmart in Hermantown, Hibbing and Mountain Iron: Ages 65 and older. Do not need to be a pharmacy customer. Schedule an appointment at walmart.com/cp/1228302.
Sam's Club in Hermantown: Ages 65 and older. Do not need to be a Sam's Club member. Schedule an appointment at samsclub.com/pharmacy/immunization?imzType=covid.
St. Louis County Public Health
Community vaccine sites: One site in Ely, Duluth, Hermantown, Hibbing and Virginia. Some people in Phase 1a priority groups, pre-K-12 staff and licensed child care workers. Eligible residents will receive link to register from county or employer. The Virginia site will move to Eveleth the first week of March.
Mobile vaccine clinics: Local public health is vaccinating employee groups at workplaces and visiting emergency shelters.
State of Minnesota
Duluth: Community vaccination site at Duluth Entertainment Convention Center is open. Minnesotans ages 65 and older are randomly selected.
Carlton County
Carlton County Public Health
Vaccine hotline: 218-499-6312. County is not taking a list of names.
Vaccine distribution: Local public health is working with employers to vaccinate those in current priority groups.
Hospitals
Community Memorial Hospital: Those ages 65 and older who receive primary care at CMH can register at cloquethospital.com/covid-vaccine. CMH will contact eligible patients who complete the form when vaccine is available.
Essentia Health-Moose Lake: Ages 65 and older and people in Phase 1a. Existing patients should register through myChart portal at essentiamyhealth.org. Patients chosen randomly. Only open to existing patients. Patients are called if they don't have myChart; do not call.
Gateway Family Health Clinic in Moose Lake: Patients ages 65 and older. Call the vaccine line at 218-485-2014 or register at gatewayclinic.com/covid-vaccine-request.
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Vaccine clinics: Open to ages 18 and older who are Fond du Lac Band enrollees, Fond du Lac Band employees and first- or second-generation descendants of those who are band enrollees. Vaccines also open to those 18 and older who live in the band's service area and are either a member of another federally recognized tribe, a first- or second-generation descendent of someone who is or a non-Indigenous household member of anyone eligible. Call 218-878-3791 or 218-878-3732 to make appointment. No walk-ins. Tribal nations can deviate from federal and state vaccine guidelines.
Pharmacies
Thrifty White in Cloquet and Moose Lake: Ages 65 and older. Do not need to be a pharmacy customer. Schedule an appointment at thriftywhite.com/covid19vaccine. If no appointments are available people can join waitlist to be notified when they open. If the location is not listed, there are no openings.
Walmart in Cloquet: Ages 65 and older. Do not need to be a pharmacy customer. Schedule an appointment at walmart.com/cp/1228302.
Itasca County
Hospitals
Essentia Health-Deer River: Ages 65 and older and people in Phase 1a. Existing patients should register through myChart portal at essentiamyhealth.org. Patients chosen randomly. Only open to existing patients. Patients are called if they don't have myChart; do not call. Current focus is on administering second doses. Groups that are candidates for the mobile vaccination outreach team are being identified through partnership with Itasca County Public Health.
Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital: Ages 75 and older. Appointments start at 9 a.m. Mondays. Schedule through Fairview MyChart at mychart.fairview.org/MyChart or call 218-326-7344. For those who live in or near Grand Rapids, Grand Itasca is offering a will-call standby list. If any additional doses become available throughout the week, patients on this list are called.
Scenic Rivers Health Services: Ages 65 and older to receive Moderna vaccinations. Call 218-361-3274 for vaccine inquiries in Bigfork and 218-361-3297 for Cook.
Itasca County Public Health
Vaccine clinic: Those who were scheduled to receive a first dose through the county's clinic Feb. 22 in Grand Rapids that was postponed are now slated to receive them Feb. 26. Appointments full; walk-ins will not be accepted.
COVID message line: 218-327-6784. Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For information about vaccination options and current local data, go to co.itasca.mn.us/798/COVID-19-Coronavirus-Information.
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Cass Lake Indian Health Services: Includes all IHS-eligible patients ages 18 and older, with elders given priority. Call 218-368-4763 to reserve an appointment. Tribal nations can deviate from state and federal vaccine guidelines.
Pharmacies
Thrifty White in Grand Rapids: Ages 65 and older. Appointments can be made at thriftywhite.com/covid19vaccine. If the location is not listed, there are no openings.
Walmart: Ages 65 and older. Do not need to be a pharmacy customer. Schedule an appointment at walmart.com/cp/1228302.
Douglas County
Douglas County Public Health
Vaccine hotline: 715-395-7336. Must be Douglas County resident and age 65 or older, a health care worker, law enforcement or firefighter. Leave name with spelling, birthdate and phone number. Only call one time. Public Health will contact you when vaccine is available. Limited supply.
Hospitals
St. Luke's Mariner Medical Clinic in Superior: Designated vaccine distribution site by Wisconsin Department of Health. Administering limited supply for patients ages 65 and older. Appointments through myCare portal at slhduluth.com/mycare or contacted by St. Luke's; do not call.
Essentia Health St. Mary's-Superior Clinic: Ages 65 and older and people in Phase 1a. Existing patients should register through myChart portal at essentiamyhealth.org. Patients chosen randomly. Only open to existing patients. Patients are called if they don't have myChart; do not call.
Community-based vaccination clinic: Douglas County will split a community-based vaccination clinic with Barron County, Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials announced Tuesday, Feb. 23. The date and location of the event were not immediately available, but the site will open within two months, a news release said.
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin is launching its vaccine registry program March 1. Options to sign up online and over the phone will be available when registration opens.
This story was last updated at 12:45 p.m. Feb. 26. It was originally posted at 11 a.m. Feb. 5.
