Minnesota receives first doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

March 4, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – State and health officials are celebrating the arrival in Minnesota of the first shipments of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, saying it will help speed up the pace of vaccinations and a return to normal.

Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday visited an M Health Fairview warehouse in Minneapolis that was one of several sites across the state receiving a share of the state’s initial 45,200 doses of the new vaccine.

Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says she’s “highly confident” that the state will reach its goal of vaccinating 70% of the 65-and-over population before the end of the month.