MPA MN COVID-19 Vaccination Resources

February 3, 2021

In an effort to continue to keep you informed of any COVID vaccination updates, we are sending information as it becomes available. The Minnesota Department of Health released more information today:

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is searching for any remaining health care employers or workers in COVID-19 vaccination priority group 1a who have not yet been vaccinated and have had no contact with the planning groups about getting a vaccine soon.  

Any health care business and any health care professional included in priority group 1a who has not yet been vaccinated and has not heard from their employer or local public health about future vaccination plans, should complete the Health Care Vaccination Connection Form. Health care providers who previously completed this form do not need to do so again. 

Information provided in the form will be shared with local public health and they will follow up with you on getting a COVID-19 vaccination. Completing the form allows MDH to set aside a correct number of vaccine doses to vaccinate all health care groups in phase 1a in the coming weeks.  

For more information about COVID-19 vaccination in Minnesota, visit COVID-19 Vaccinations. More information on phase 1a can be found at COVID-19 Vaccine Phases and Planning.

MPA will continue, as always, to communicate detailed information about a variety of issues to members as part of their membership benefits. Non-members may not be included in all MPA communications. If you are a prospective member looking to join MPA, you can join online here.

MPA Executive Committee

January 25, 2021

In an effort to continue to keep you informed of any COVID vaccination updates we are sending information as it becomes available. The Minnesota Department of Health recently released information about what you should do if you are a health care worker in Phase 1a and are still awaiting your vaccine:

Individual healthcare workers:

Please check with your employer regarding arrangements for staff vaccinations. If they do not have any information, you can provide your information by clicking on this Healthcare Vaccination Connection Form. MDH will share the information you enter with your local health department. They will reach out to you when there are vaccines and appointments available.

Self-employed or other healthcare workers:

Please provide your information by clicking on this Healthcare Vaccination Connection Form. MDH will share the information you enter with your local health department. They will reach out to you when there are vaccines and appointments available.

Businesses/clinics:

If you run a healthcare business or clinic prioritized in Phase 1a and have not yet made arrangements for vaccination of your staff with a healthcare provider or local public health department, please provide your information by clicking on this Healthcare Vaccination Connection Form. MDH will share the information you enter with your local health department. They will reach out to you when there are vaccines and appointments available.

MPA will continue, as always, to communicate detailed information about a variety of issues to members as part of their membership benefits. Non-members may not be included in all MPA communications. If you are a prospective member looking to join MPA, you can join online here.
 
MPA Executive Committee

January 19, 2021

The vaccine rollout in Minnesota is continuing and is now expanding coverage as follows: 

1. You are 65 years or older; or,
2. You are an educator or child care worker, and you have been notified by your employer that you have been selected to receive the vaccine. 

https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/index.jsp
 
Additionally, M Health Fairview is now making vaccines available to Tier 1a Healthcare providers at all levels on a limited basis at some local metro centers. You may be able to schedule an appointment through M Health Fairview MyChart. There have been mixed results with Fairview, so please be prepared that this may not work for all: 

https://mychart.fairview.org/MyChart/accesscheck.asp
 
While this is exciting news, we are also in the early phases of the expansion of access to vaccines and this can include some technological and logistical hurdles.

MPA will continue, as always, to communicate detailed information about a variety of issues to members as part of their membership benefits. Non-members may not be included in all MPA communications. If you are a prospective member looking to join MPA, you can join online here.
 
MPA Executive Committee

January 4, 2021

We understand that some of you are having a difficult time reaching someone who can give you specific information regarding vaccine scheduling. First, I want to emphasize that those who fall into the third priority group of 1a are those for whom their services are not feasible for telehealth work for some substantive reason. Otherwise we would urge you to wait for a later phase in the vaccination process so that priority groups and particularly vulnerable populations can get their vaccines from what is currently a very limited supply nationwide.

We currently have multiple messages into the Department of Health and Commissioner Malcom's office to get more accurate information and have offered to help facilitate information sharing with our membership.

As for metro area individuals, the Metro Health and Medical Preparedness Coalition (https://www.metrohealthready.org/) reportedly has a survey that non-affiliated providers can fill out to be contacted when vaccines become available for that priority groups beyond the first two. That survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRC7WPS

Please bear with us and the rest of the State as this slow process rolls out. We are continually monitoring the situation as best we can and will send out updates when we receive actionable information.

Jordan Robinson, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
MPA President

January 4, 2021

MPA Members, MN Psychologists and Mental Health Practitioners,

We have heard from many people with questions regarding the timeline for COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly for those of you in private and small group practices outside of hospital and other large organizations. We have been in touch with the MN Department of Health regarding these questions. The following are some links that may be helpful.
 
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/vaccine/phase1aguide.pdf
 
The above link details the priority groups for vaccinations. After accounting for those in organizations, most individuals working in outpatient settings would fall in the third priority group of 1a. We have been instructed to tell our membership that those individuals not working within organizations with their own vaccination plans should contact their county health departments, as they will be responsible for vaccine distribution when additional vaccine doses become more widely available.
 
https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/practice/connect/findlph.html
 
Above is a web page that lists the county health departments. I strongly urge you to contact them soon to find out if they have a way to organize and facilitate vaccinations. We will remain in contact with MDH in case the situation changes significantly, and will alert members if we receive additional actionable information.
 
We are also asking members to let us know specifics about what has worked and what has not regarding trying to get your vaccination scheduled if you are receiving it outside of employment in a larger organization by contacting [email protected] or [email protected]. We will compile these resources to send out to MPA members.

Jordan Robinson, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
MPA President

December 22, 2020

MPA is communicating with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for information regarding the timeline for MN psychologists to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. MDH has recommended to watch for information on their website regarding phases and planning. Click here for more information regarding phase 1a. MPA will update members as more information, specifically regarding psychologists, becomes available.