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Minnesota hopes to fully vaccinate 70% of its population 16 and over against the virus that causes COVID-19 by July 1.
Reaching that rate would allow the state to achieve herd immunity, where a virus is unlikely to infect people who lack immunity because a majority of a population would have it. But Minnesota anticipates falling short. As of June 7, only 60% of Minnesota’s population is fully vaccinated.
A small number of people in Minnesota are hesitant to receive the vaccine because they either don’t trust the vaccine or the government’s word.
Still, another group of people want the vaccine. They just don’t know where to find it, or if they can, they have a hard time getting to it. In Minnesota, as in many states, Black, Hispanic and Native American residents have received disproportionately fewer vaccine doses.
Meanwhile, Metro Transit, which provides transit service in the Twin Cities, had a surplus of buses available. The agency reduced service by as much as 40% as ridership plummeted during the pandemic.
After six weeks of planning earlier this year, the Minnesota Department of Health, along with Metro Transit and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, debuted six buses specifically retrofitted to provide COVID-19 vaccines in areas where people need it the most.
Planning began...