Officials discuss COVID-19 vaccine plan at Minneapolis VA Health Care System

On Tuesday, officials at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System addressed the latest plans with the COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota.

Gov. Tim Walz joined Director Patrick Kelly, Chief of Staff Kent Crossley, Associate Director Kurt Thielen, Network Director Robert McDivitt and VA nurse Thera Witte RN.

Kelly said the facility received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine Monday, and its first employee was vaccinated as of Tuesday. McDivitt mentioned that the VA facility was one of the first in the state to administer the vaccine. The Minneapolis VA is a flagship of the U.S. VA system, as it was selected as one of five out of 100 total sites to be the first to receive the vaccine.

Walz called the Minneapolis VA team "unbelievable," saying they have been going through months of treating patients and will now have a tool to help climb out of this pandemic. The governor mentioned that the next appointment for second doses of the vaccine has already been set.

Echoing Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm from Monday’s briefing, Walz reiterated that health care workers have been receiving more information on training and protocols to administer the vaccine.

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Thielen called the partnership between the state and VA "remarkable," and noted how front-line nurses have been fighting this battle with COVID-19 for quite some time. The officials said Tuesday was a celebratory day for the progress being made, just as the pandemic continues to take its toll on health care workers and veterans.

A nurse on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center was the first in Minnesota to receive a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday. Witte, who works in a coronavirus unit at the hospital, said she feels honored to be the first and did not hesitate to volunteer. Thousands of doses of the Pfizer vaccine began arriving in Minnesota this week, with the VA hospital being the first recipient of 2,925 doses on Monday with additional doses arriving at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester and the Cass Lake Indian Health Service.

"It is a personal choice, for me, it’s not just preventing getting COVID myself, it’s the safety of my family, our communities and my colleagues and the veterans we take care of," Nurse Thera Witte from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center said. "I think everyone is feeling really hopeful, this is the beginning of the end, there’s light at the end of the tunnel."

Walz noted Tuesday that even with the increase of work in getting enough personal protective equipment and moving the vaccine, all that could diminish if Congress doesn’t act before the end of the year.

"Figure this thing out," Walz told Congress. He also mentioned for politicians to not use the public, public health and/or small businesses as "leverage."

The governor, who is expected to provide an update on Wednesday whether or not the current virus restrictions will stay in effect, said a lot that depends on if we can as a state stop overwhelming hospital systems and reduce community spread. The goal is then to get schools back in session, along with other places opened back up.

Walz now set to announce whether current COVID-19 restrictions will be extended on Wednesday

"If we can work toward a smart and good plan, then the opportunity for fewer restrictions arises," Walz said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.