COVID-19 Information
Know Your Community COVID Level: COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area. Find your community COVID level here.
Vaccine Opportunities:
If you are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, please see below for more information and to schedule an appointment through local providers.
Minnesota Department of Health's Vaccine Connector: click here to schedule an appointment.
CentraCare Health COVID-19 Vaccination: click here to schedule an appointment.
Fairview Health COVID-19 Vaccination: click here to schedule an appointment.
Click here to view Minnesota's vaccine dashboard to see COVID-19 vaccination rates statewide and in each county.
Click here to see how Minnesota compares to other states in COVID-19 vaccination rates.
There are three COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized or approved for use in the United States to prevent COVID-19 including the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine, which are mRNA vaccines, as well as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine which is a viral vector vaccine. Talk to your health care provider to decide which vaccine type is best for you. For more information on each of these vaccines including manufacturer, number of shots, who is eligible to receive each type, and any information on booster or additional doses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. If you do happen to get COVID-19 after vaccination (called a breakthrough case), the COVID-19 vaccine will still help reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death caused by the COVID-19 virus.
You may have some side effects after vaccination, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may be an inconvenience and may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Everyone's vaccination experience is different and some people have no side effects.
Common Side Effects:
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle Pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
- Pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
Helpful Tips:
Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines, for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally. It is not recommended that you take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot:
- Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area
- Use or exercise your arm
To reduce discomfort from a fever:

- Drink plenty of fluids
- Dress lightly
- Rest
When to Call the Doctor:
In most cases, discomfort from pain or fever is a normal sign that your body is building protection. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider:
- If redness or tenderness where you got the shot gets worse after 24 hours
- If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell the CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers to the web surveys, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
This information has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
Minnesotans can now easily access their immunization record through their smartphones or other mobile devices by using an app called Docket. Docket enables residents with a Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) record to securely view and share their immunization records.
MIIC, Minnesota’s immunization information system, combines all immunizations a person has received into a single record, even if they were given by different health care providers in Minnesota. Anyone who has a MIIC record can use the Docket app to access their record, including their COVID-19 vaccination. The app provides a PDF document of the immunization record that can be saved to your mobile device, printed, emailed, or texted as needed.
Anyone who wants or needs access to their immunization record and does not have a smartphone or does not want to use the app can still request their immunization record from MDH or their health care provider. For more information, visit Find My Immunization Record.
There are several COVID-19 testing options available, including community and at-home testing. Many COVID-19 tests are free, but a health care provider may charge for their time. It is important to get tested following recommendations from MDH and the CDC to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations over the past few years. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend children catch up on routine childhood vaccinations and get back on track for school, childcare, and beyond.
Making sure that your child sees their doctor for well-child visits and recommended vaccines is one of the best things you can do to protect your child and community from serious diseases that are easily spread.
Well-child visits and recommended vaccinations are essential and help make sure children stay healthy. Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough. These diseases are extremely contagious and can be very serious, especially for babies and young children. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of these diseases, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.
Well-child visits are essential for many reasons, including:
- Tracking growth and developmental milestones
- Discussing any concerns about your child’s health
- Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough (pertussis) and other serious diseases
To view the current recommended immunization schedules for different age groups, visit the CDC's Immunization Schedules Website.
For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/visit/vaccination-during-COVID-19.html