Data: 91% of Minnesotans who got COVID-19 vaccines are white

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Data from the state Department of Health show nearly 91% of Minnesotans who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are white. That’s compared to U.S. Census data that shows whites make up about 82% of the state’s population.

The latest vaccine data released Friday shows about 3.5% of those vaccinated in Minnesota are Black, 3% are Asian and 1.7% are Hispanic. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the figures only account for about 83 percent of those who have received the vaccine.

Minnesota has been trying to distribute COVID-19 vaccines equitably, but efforts have been hard to track because state laws restrict demographic information that can be collected and how that information can be distributed.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Friday the state will partner with Minnesota Electronic Health Record Consortium to track vaccinations by race and ethnicity. The data will be collected from summary reports from health care providers, pharmacies, public health agencies and others conducting vaccinations.

Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the demographic data will help the state better allocate vaccine doses equitably.

Health officials reported Saturday that more than 1 million Minnesotans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including 61.7% of residents age 65 and up. A total of 543,696 people completed the full two-dose series.

Gov. Tim Walz also announced Saturday that nearly 55% of Minnesota’s educators, school staff, and child care providers have received the vaccine.

Minnesota reported 975 new coronavirus infections on Saturday and 12 more deaths linked to COVID-19.