National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 4-8) reminds us that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu shot, including pregnant people. It is best to get vaccinated before the flu season starts, but you can get a flu shot at any time during the season and at any time during pregnancy.

Pregnant people are at higher risk of getting very sick from the flu, being hospitalized, or dying from flu-related complications. If a pregnant person gets sick with the flu, it can also cause serious problems with their pregnancy, such as preterm labor and birth.

Getting a flu shot is a safe way to protect both a pregnant person and their developing baby from serious illness and complications of flu. Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant people for over 50 years, and have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant people or their babies.

If you are pregnant getting a flu shot reduces your risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40%. Your flu shot also helps to protect your baby from flu illness and flu-related hospitalizations for the first several months after their birth. Antibodies you develop in response to the vaccine are passed on to your developing baby during pregnancy.

The best way to keep you and your baby healthy this flu season is to get your flu shot. For more information visit Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot.

Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Flu & Pregnancy
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy
• Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot

Although most people with COVID-19 will get better after a few weeks, some do not fully recover from their illness. Even a mild case of COVID-19 can lead to long-term symptoms. Long COVID is impacting thousands of Minnesotans. Some may struggle with work, school, and family life. Care and support may be available.

If you are experiencing symptoms of long COVID, medical and social support may be available to you. Explore the lists below to learn more.

If you need help finding a doctor, mental health support, or insurance coverage, visit Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS): Health care. For help filling out applications or enrolling in coverage, search the directory of MNsure-certified Navigators.

For culturally-specific assistance with COVID-19 issues, understanding the effects of COVID-19, or finding mental health resources, search the listing of COVID-19 Community Coordinators.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published a guide of federal programs and recommendations: HHS: Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 (PDF).

To access Minnesota assistance programs, visit mnbenefits.mn.gov.

Medical care

Start by talking with a doctor or health care provider about your symptoms. They may have options for care not listed below.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer resources to help you prepare for your appointment:

• Patient Tips: Healthcare Provider Appointments for Post-COVID Conditions
• Healthcare Appointment Checklist for Post-COVID Conditions (PDF)
• Preparing to Discuss Post-COVID Conditions with a Healthcare Provider (PDF)

Many of us will be gathering with family and friends during the upcoming holidays. With many respiratory diseases spreading right now, including flu, RSV, and COVID-19, it is important to take steps to help everyone celebrate safer!

Here are some things you can do:

• Make sure you and your family are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines and have received your annual flu vaccine. You can get both vaccines at the same visit.
  • Find COVID-19 and flu vaccine locations near you at Vaccines.gov. Many locations, such as pharmacies, may have both vaccines, so you can ask about getting both shots at the same time.
• Stay home if you are feeling sick. No one wants to miss out on the celebration, but it is important to stay home so others do not get sick.
• Wash your hands often.
• Check the CDC COVID-19 community level by county before you go so you can follow appropriate public health recommendations, such as when to wear a mask. You can also wear a mask at any time, no matter what the community level is.
• Consider COVID-19 testing before gathering, particularly if there will be people there who are at higher risk for severe disease.

Learn more at Protect Yourself and Others: COVID-19 and Influenza.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 vaccines.

Completing your primary vaccination series and getting a booster dose when due remains the most important way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very good at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Make sure you and your family are up to date on any COVID-19 vaccine doses you are recommended to get to have the best protection against COVID-19.

• How to get a free vaccine
  • Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you
    • Find Vaccine Locations
  • Check for vaccine appointments using Vaccine.gov (you can search for appointments by vaccine type: Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, Johnson & Johnson vaccine)
    • Vaccines.gov, Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you
  • Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
  • Employers may also reach out with information for vaccination opportunities.

Vaccination Events:

Asian Media Access

• Pop Up Vaccination at Art of HEALING with Youth Entrepreneurship Activities
  • Saturday, December 10, 2022
  • 12 – 5 p.m.
  • Pfizer vaccine and bivalent boosters available
  • $50 incentive
  • Hennepin Technical College Cafeteria
  • 9000 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park
  • Asian Media Access Vaccination Event 12.10.jpg

Igbo Women League of Minnesota

• COVID-19 vaccine clinic
  • Saturday, December 10, 2022
  • 4 – 8 p.m.
  • Pfizer vaccine and bivalent boosters available
  • At-home rapid COVID-19 tests available
  • Brooklyn United Methodist Church
  • 7200 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Center
  • IWL Vaccination Event 12.10.jpg

Autism Society of Minnesota & Multicultural Autism Action Network

• Three COVID-19 and flu vaccine events for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Tuesday, December 13, 2022
    • 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • St. Paul Primary Care Clinic
    • 347 N. Smith Avenue, Garden View Suite 302, St. Paul
    • To schedule an appointment, call 651-220-6700
  • Thursday, December 15, 2022
    • 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Partners in Pediatrics Maple Grove Primary Care Clinic
    • 12720 Bass Lake Road, Maple Grove
    • To schedule an appointment, call 763-559-2861
  • Friday, December 16, 2022
    • 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Partners in Pediatrics Brooklyn Park Primary Care Clinic
    • 8500 Edinbrook Parkway, Brooklyn Park
    • To schedule an appointment, call 763-425-1211
  • Children’s Minnesota AuSM and MAAN vaccine clinics flyer.pdf

TAKS

• Community COVID-19 vaccination event
  • Thursday, December 15, 2022
  • 2 – 6 p.m.
  • Pfizer vaccines and bivalent boosters available
  • $50 incentive
  • 2601 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis

TAKS Vaccination Event 12.15.pdf

Updated December 8, 2022

• Total positive including reinfections: 1,719,549
• Total deaths: 13,773
• Total cases requiring hospitalization: 77,591
• Total cases hospitalized in ICU: 13,267

Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020.

The number of lab-confirmed positive tests among Minnesota residents will be updated weekly on Situation Update for COVID-19 with data as of 4 a.m. on the Tuesday prior. The page also includes a map of counties with confirmed cases, data by race/ethnicity, and more.

This total reflects only the results from laboratory testing. There are more cases in Minnesota, and the virus is circulating in communities. It is important for everyone to take steps to protect themselves and others through vaccination, testing, staying home when sick, and more.

Updated December 8, 2022

• People with at least one vaccine dose: 4,003,084
• People with completed vaccine series: 3,763,339
• People up to date with vaccine doses: 1,103,626