Lake Region Healthcare now offers COVID-19 Vaccine for those 65 and Older by Appointment

There’s good news this week for people 65 and older wanting a COVI-19 vaccination. A more steady supply of vaccine allocations has finally arrived in our region, allowing Lake Region Healthcare and Prairie Ridge Healthcare to have wider availability of vaccines this week, according to CEO Kent Mattson.

“We had to work hard to advocate for more equitable vaccine distribution in greater Minnesota, and we’re glad to be at a place where we can more broadly offer shots now that we are receiving more regular and sizeable allocations,” Mattson said. While supply is still limited and demand is strong, Mattson adds that the State is recognizing health care providers like are the mainstay of Minnesota’s vaccination approach and we look forward to increased allocations over the coming months.

Vaccinations are available by appointments only and can be made by calling 218.739.2221.

Appointments for the second dose will be made at the time of the initial appointment and ideally are scheduled 21 days later if the initial doze is the Pfizer vaccine and 28 days later if it is the Moderna vaccine. The clinics are currently getting allocations of both types.

Future appointment availability will be published online at www.lrhc.org/covid19vaccine and www.prairiehealth.org/covid19vaccine.

As for when the next phase will begin and who will be eligible in that phase, it’s still somewhat unclear according to Mattson. The Governor of Minnesota indicated he wanted to see a 70% vaccination rate of people 65 and older before advancing to younger populations with high risk conditions or working in targeted essential job classifications. Those details from the Minnesota Department of Health website are below.