Photo: KBJR-TV

The state is extending its mobile vaccine clinic initiative that was launched back in April. The six fleet mobile vaccine project scheduled to run April through August, administered over 7,200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine during 170 unique clinics in 42 counties across the state.

With that, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will keep two of the units in use.

The program is also looking into ways to use the buses to provide other routine vaccines in the future.

“We are excited to see that communities are using this resource, and we are thrilled to continue serving Minnesotans with this unique program,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.

The mobile units provide vaccines to communities that include people of color, urban Native Americans, LGBTQI+, people with disabilities and unique health needs, people living in isolation and people experiencing homelessness.

Clinic locations that serve people living in ZIP codes with a higher social vulnerability index (SVI) are prioritized.

The mobile vaccination unit project is a joint effort between MDH and partners like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Metro Transit.

Blue Cross volunteers staffed the buses to administer vaccines. Metro Transit retrofitted the buses to become mobile clinics and their bus operators drove the buses.

The partnership with Blue Cross concluded on Aug. 31. During the 20-week initiative, 375 volunteers from Blue Cross and its parent company staffed more than 1,000 clinical and non-clinical positions on the buses.

In addition, 38 community clinicians volunteered on the buses through Minnesota Doctors for Health Equity, a statewide coalition of physicians and other health professionals working toward health equity for all Minnesotans.

To see the original report and read related stories, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website.  https://kbjr6.com/2021/09/20/minnesota-extends-covid-19-mobile-vaccination-project/