Minnesota Sets New Record For Most Vaccines Given In 1 Day

MINNESOTA — Nearly one year since the first case of the coronavirus was identified in Minnesota, the state is eyeing a major pandemic recovery milestone: administering at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 1 million residents.

State officials confirmed the first case March 6, 2020. Since then, a total of 484,594 cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Minnesota, and it has claimed 6,483 lives.

But the state is now reporting a more hopeful statistic: 902,242 residents, or 16.2 percent of the state population, have received at least one dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Over half of those people have gone on to complete the full two-dose series, meaning they are now unlikely to contract the virus. The number of completely vaccinated people was 467,300, or 8.4 percent of the population, as of Monday.

Between partially and fully vaccinated populations, the state has given out a total of 1,371,772 doses of the vaccine, data shows.

Since the first vaccines arrived in Minnesota, health departments and pharmacies have prioritized the vaccination of health care workers, long-term care residents, education workers and people over the age of 65.

Related: MN Coronavirus Vaccine Hub: Where, Who And How To Get Immunized

Data shows 959 doses of the vaccine have been given to residents between ages 16 and 17. Those in the 19 to 49 age group have received 280,693 doses of the vaccine, and people between ages 50 and 64 have received 168,555 doses.

People over the age of 65 have received 452,023 doses of the vaccine.

Women are outpacing men in vaccination rates, according to state data. While women have received 569,412 doses of the vaccine, men have received 325,501. Another 7,309 people without a documented gender have also been vaccinated.

Minnesota set consecutive records for highest one-day vaccinations over the weekend, giving out some 56,000 doses on Saturday and about 70,000 doses on Sunday. The Associated Press Reports the massive vaccination push is in response to delays in supply caused by bad weather around the country.

Over the last week, the state averaged more than 34,000 vaccinations a day, the highest since inoculations began in December, the AP reports.

With the release of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires one dose, Minnesota Public Radio News reports the state is on pace to offer vaccines to 80 percent of its residents by August.