Covid-19 Vaccine

Central Minnesota's largest health care system has announced they will be the latest to require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

St. Cloud State University President Dr. Robbyn Wacker joined me on WJON today. She says they are monitoring the COVID-19 local cases and situation daily. Wacker says they "strongly encourage faculty, staff and students to get the COVID-19 vaccine."

The policy requires all Mayo Clinic employees to be fully vaccinated by mid-September.

CentraCare Spokesperson Dr. Jill Amsberry joined me on WJON this week. We discussed the vaccination process of the newest eligible age group that can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Amsberry says 30% of 12-16 year olds in Minnesota have had at least one dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

This week on WJON's Health Matters program I was joined by Dr. David Smith from Sartell Pediatrics. He says he trusts the doctors and scientists that say the Covid-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be safe. Smith says he believes this so much that his kids have participated in the clinical …

A U.S. health panel says it's time to resume use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, despite a very rare risk of blood clots.

Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday launched an outreach campaign aimed at vaccinating Minnesota workers in frontline industries in the coming weeks.

Over 50 percent of the positive test results last week involved the more transmissible variant.

CentraCare Spokesman Dr. George Morris from CentraCare joined me on WJON today. He says CentreCare is receiving 3,000 to 4,000 vaccines from the state each week and anticipates that number a week through the end of the month with an increase expected starting in April.

St. Cloud V.A. Director of Pharmacy J.D. Anderson and St. Cloud V.A. Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable joined me on WJON today for our Voices for Veteran segment. Anderson says the St. Cloud V.A. has vaccinated more than 9,000 people with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and that number includes hea…