Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health updated the state's COVID-19 eligibility to include cancer patients undergoing treatment. We are pleased to share that Minnesota Oncology cancer patients in active treatment are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

• New:  People age 16 and older with Sickle cell disease, Down Syndrome, oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions, who are in active cancer treatment, or who are immunocompromised from organ transplant
• New:  Long-term care residents and staff members working at long-term care facilities in Minnesota
• New:  People age 45 and older with ONE or more of the following underlying medical conditions; or, age 16 and over with TWO or more of the following underlying medical conditions:
  • Active cancer
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Diabetes - Type 1 or 2
  • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
  • Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from HIV, bone marrow disease, chronic steroids for more than 30 days, immunodeficiency disease, or from taking immunosuppressive medications
  • Obesity - body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2
  • Pregnancy
• New:  People age 50 and older in multi-generational housing
• New:  Essential frontline workers as defined by the state
• Minnesotans age 65 and older
• Health care workers
• Long-term care residents and staff members working at long-term care facilities in Minnesota
• See the MDH Vaccine Connector for more details on vaccine eligibility  

Information for Minnesota Oncology Patients:

Patients in active cancer treatment have many options for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine:

1. Contact your primary care provider
2.  Use MDH Vaccine connector by going to https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/connector.jsp or calling the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector Hotline at 833-431-2053.
3. Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Appointments: If you meet the current guidelines and would like to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you may call 1-855-FAIRVIEW (324-7843) to schedule an appointment. Once connected, select option 7 and then option 1 to schedule your vaccine. (The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will only be administered at M Health Fairview - Minneapolis/Kasota (Interstate building, 668 24th Ave. SE, Minneapolis).

*Please note that patients do NOT need a letter from Minnesota Oncology stating that they are undergoing active cancer treatment in order to receive the vaccine. 

If you have questions, please speak with your care team.