| View this as a webpage Minnesota Department of Health August 18, 2021 COVID-19 Testing Options for Schools The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) announced updates to Minnesota's statewide education testing program. Schools will now have a variety of testing options available to them as they work to develop local testing programs to keep kids and staff healthy, safe, and in their classrooms. MDE will also provide grants to support testing efforts in schools. Testing at school makes access to tests more equitable, which is one of the many reasons the State of Minnesota encourages all schools to create their own testing program. Offering testing in schools is strongly recommended given the rise in Delta variant cases. Districts, charter schools, tribal schools, and nonpublic schools will be able to choose from the following tests to create their own testing programs: - BinaxNOW Professional and Over-the-Counter: individual rapid antigen test.
- Cue: individual rapid molecular nasal swab test.
- Vault: individual molecular saliva test.
- Battelle: pooled molecular nasal swab test.
- Hot Spot Testing: Schools can work with their local public health or MDH to request a temporary testing location in response to local outbreaks.
Learn more about school testing options and recommendations at COVID-19 Testing During the 2021-22 School Year. Updated Testing Recommendations All Minnesotans should follow the updated COVID-19 Testing recommendations.  Get a COVID-19 test at no-cost: | Statement on CDC Announcement of Boosters for Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines MDH issued this statement following today's announcement by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about its plan to offer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots starting the week of September 20: Joint Statement from HHS Public Health and Medical Experts on COVID-19 Booster Shots. Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic, and today's announcement underscores the importance of the protection these vaccines offer. It also underscores the importance of continuing to follow the science as we learn more about the disease and the tools available to protect us against it. What Minnesotans need to know right now is that the vaccines provide strong protection against COVID-19, especially against severe illness and death. Booster doses likely will be needed in the near future to continue that protection, but people need to wait until the prescribed time to get that booster. Based on information from CDC today, boosters should become available starting the week of September 20. Booster timing is expected to be eight months after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. For example, this would mean that a person who got their second dose on February 1 should get their booster dose on or around October 1. Many vaccines require boosters to maintain protection. While the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very effective in reducing risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death, the data shared by CDC indicate that protection against COVID-19 infection decreases over time. A booster dose eight months after a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines can extend that protection. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will provide more information on booster doses as well as recommendations specific to the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine. There is plenty of vaccine available. We stand ready to work with the federal government and our partners across the state to ensure that Minnesotans have equitable access to booster doses to provide the best protection against COVID-19. We encourage all eligible Minnesotans who are not yet vaccinated to get it done as soon as they can. The more people who are vaccinated, the more protection we have in our communities. COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives Governor Walz announced and extended several initiatives to encourage Minnesotans to get vaccinated: - Minnesotans 12 years of age and older who receive their first dose between Friday, July 30 and Sunday, August 22, 2021, will be eligible for a $100 Visa gift card. Minnesotans can verify their first dose and register for the incentive at Get vaccinated. Get $100.
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Minnesotans 18 years of age and older who receive their COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up clinic outside U.S. Bank Stadium this Saturday, August 21, will be eligible to enter a drawing for two pairs of tickets in the stadium's Medtronic Club for the Vikings-Packers game on Sunday, November 21. Additionally, the first 100 people who are vaccinated at the clinic will be able to choose from a variety of autographed Vikings mini helmets, regardless of age. Learn more at Vikings Preseason Vaccine Giveaway. - Get your one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Terminal 2 at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport through September 21 and enter for a chance to win a $200 travel voucher through Sun Country Airlines! This opportunity is open to Minnesotans 18 or over; no boarding pass or appointment required. Learn more at Safe Travels, MN.
Visit Find Vaccine Locations, contact a health care provider or local pharmacy, or go to Vaccines.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.  Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Materials We are adding new videos, print materials, and translated documents often. Check out the pages below to view, download, or print these resources.
The situation is changing rapidly. Visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for the most up-to-date information and follow MDH on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram to stay informed. | 
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