travel vaccines minnesota

Immunization Information for International Travelers

• Immunization Information for International Travelers Home
• International Travel Health Clinics
• Criteria for Clinics Providing Yellow Fever Vaccinations

Related Topics

• International Travel and Infectious Diseases
• Measles (Rubeola)
• Mosquitoborne Diseases

Contact Info

International travel health clinics serving minnesota residents.

The international travel vaccines you need depend on your travel destination, age, current medical condition, occupation and lifestyle. Start planning now. Some vaccines take up to six months for the entire series.

The Minnesota Department of Health does not provide international travel health consultation or travel shots. Information on international travel shots and other travel health issues including disease and concerns about food and water supplies is available by country on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Travelers' Health .

• If you are going to Africa, Central America, or South America , you may need yellow fever vaccine or other vaccines your health care provider might not have. International travel health clinics are the only places that can give yellow fever vaccine. The international travel health clinics listed below are authorized to administer yellow fever vaccine. They also provide a variety of other pre- and post-travel services to travelers. To find other clinics authorized to administer yellow fever vaccine visit CDC: Search for Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinics .
• If you are going to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, or New Zealand , your health care provider should be able to give you the shots you need. If you are going to any other country than those just listed, an international travel health clinic is your best resource.
• Don't just get your international travel shots! It’s a good idea for adults and children to be up to date with routine vaccines before they leave the country. If you are not sure if you or your children are up to date with routine shots, call your health care provider. More information is also available on our Immunization website.

NOTE: Always call the clinic before going. Most require an appointment and may require you to see a health care provider first.

The international travel health clinics listed below are authorized to administer yellow fever vaccine. They also provide a variety of other pre- and post-travel services to travelers.

Greater Minnesota clinics  

• Sanford Health Broadway Clinic Alexandria 320-762-0399
• Mayo Clinic Health System - Austin Austin 507-434-1020
• Essentia Health - Brainerd Clinic Brainerd 218-828-7100
• Essentia Health - Duluth Clinic Duluth 218-786-3926
• St. Luke's Infectious Disease Associates Duluth 218-249-7990
• Allina Health - Faribault Faribault 507-334-3921
• Hutchinson Health Clinic Hutchinson 320-587-2020
• Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato Mankato 507-594-5857
• Mayo Clinic Travel and Tropical Medicine Clinic Rochester 507-255-7763
• Olmsted Medical Center Rochester 507-288-3443
• CentraCare - Northway Family Medicine St. Cloud 320-251-1775
• Carris Health - Willmar Willmar Phone: 320-231-5070

Twin Cities metropolitan clinics  

• M Health Fairview - Apple Valley Clinic Apple Valley 952-997-4100
• Noble Parkway Medical Clinic Brooklyn Park 763-496-1562
• Park Nicollet Travel Clinic Burnsville Burnsville 952-993-3131
• Passport Health - Edina Travel Clinic Edina 877-358-8648
• Park Nicollet Travel Clinic Maple Grove Maple Grove 952-993-3131
• Minneapolis Health Clinic Golden Valley 763-496-5708
• Allina Health - Nicollet Mall Minneapolis 612-333-8883
• Allina Health - Uptown Minneapolis 612-824-1772
• Boynton Health Travel Clinic Minneapolis 612-625-8400
• HealthPartners Travel and Tropical Medicine Center Minneapolis 952-541-2611
• Hennepin Healthcare - International Travel Medicine  Minneapolis 612-873-2942
• Homeland Health Specialists Minneapolis 763-746-8060
• M Health Fairview Infectious Disease Clinic Minneapolis 612-625-4680
• M Health Fairview - Uptown Clinic Minneapolis 612-827-4751
• Northwest Family Physicians Minneapolis 763-287-6500
• Park Nicollet Clinic Minneapolis 952-993-3131
• Crown Medical Support Services Clinic Minneapolis 612-978-3783
• HealthPartners Travel and Tropical Medicine Center St. Paul 651-254-7044
• M Health Fairview - Bethesda Clinic St. Paul 651-227-6551
• Passport Health - St. Paul Travel Clinic St. Paul 877-358-8648
• Allina Health - Shoreview Shoreview 651-483-5461
• Allina Health - Woodbury Woodbury 651-241-3000

Clinics near Minnesota borders  

• North Iowa Mercy Internal Medicine Mason City, IA 800-756-4423
• Fargo/Cass Public Health Department Fargo, ND 701-298-6938
• Altru Main Clinic Grand Forks, ND 701-780-6234
• Sanford Health Sioux Falls, SD 605-328-8120
• Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center La Crosse, WI 800-362-9567
• St. Croix Regional Medical Center St. Croix Falls, WI 800-828-3627

Where can I get information on travel shots?  

The Minnesota Department of Health does not provide travel health consultation or travel vaccines. Use one of these Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resources below to learn about travel vaccines and other travel health issues. If you have insurance, call your health plan's member services office to see if you are covered for your travel vaccines.

• CDC Travelers' Health Health information for specific destinations or diseases, plus general travel health tips.
• Contact CDC: 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: 888-232-6348

• Medical Departments & Centers
• Infectious Diseases

Travel Medicine Clinics Overview

A visit to a Mayo Clinic travel medicine clinic before you depart on an international trip can help ensure a safer, smoother experience.

If you're planning a trip overseas, make one of your first stops a consultation with specialists in the travel medicine clinics at Mayo's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Availability of services may vary among locations. Please confirm when you request an appointment.

You meet with a travel medicine specialist who is knowledgeable about current health risks worldwide and who will promote safe and healthy travels by offering counseling, recommendations, vaccinations, prescriptions and, if needed, a referral to another expert for complex medical conditions.

Virtual visits

You might be eligible for virtual pretravel consultations. If you're interested in this option, talk with the patient appointment specialist when you contact us to schedule an appointment.

COVID-19 and international travel

International travel has become more complex due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some countries have exit and entry requirements. Your travel medicine specialist will be able to help you prepare for these requirements so that you have a smoother travel experience.

Before your trip

Schedule an appointment for a pretravel consultation with a Mayo Clinic travel medicine clinic well before you depart so the travel medicine specialist can help you prepare. Ideally, this appointment would occur as soon as travel plans are established and at least two weeks — and preferably 4-8 weeks — before departure. When requesting an appointment for pretravel consultation, be prepared to inform the patient appointment specialist of the following:

• All countries being visited
• Dates and duration of travel
• Any unusual circumstances

At or preferably before the appointment, you will want to provide copies of all available immunization records (including the International Certificate of Vaccination, commonly referred to as the yellow card). Doing so will expedite your clinic visit and may decrease the number of vaccines you are advised to receive.

Your in-depth pre-travel consultation may include:

• A country-by-country assessment of all health risks specific for your travel itinerary, such as exotic infectious agents, altitude sickness and heat exhaustion
• A review of your medical and immunization history profile with advice for health promotion and illness prevention
• Advice for the high-risk traveler
• Immunization recommendations, counseling and administration of vaccines to prevent illnesses
• Vector precautions counseling
• Malaria prevention counseling, with prescriptions if needed
• Traveler's diarrhea counseling for prevention and self-treatment, with antibiotic prescription if needed
• Identification of health resources in the countries you'll be visiting
• Counseling on travel-related risks such as altitude sickness, with preventive prescriptions if needed
• An opportunity to ask questions about the unique health and safety concerns for your travel itinerary

You will leave your travel medicine clinic appointment with much helpful and up-to-date information.

After your trip

• Depending on where you're going and for how long, the travel clinic may recommend a routine follow-up evaluation after your return.
• If you return sick, the travel clinic staff members are Mayo Clinic infectious diseases experts who provide comprehensive post-travel consultations for evaluation and treatment of travel-related illness, including parasitic and other diseases common to tropical regions but uncommon in the United States.
• Mayo Clinic Travel Medicine Clinic
• 5881 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054
• Phone: 480-342-0115
• 4500 San Pablo Road Jacksonville, FL 32224
• Phone: 904-953-0774
• Mayo Clinic Travel and Geographic Medicine Clinic
• 200 First St. SW East 6A, Mayo Building Rochester, MN 55905
• Phone: 507-255-7763 (toll-fee)
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Central Minnesota Travel Medicine

Stay healthy while traveling.

When you are checking off your list of things to do before taking a trip outside of the country, don’t forget your Travel Medicine appointment.

We offer pre-travel counseling, required immunizations, water/food safety education, and other health-related traveling tips for people planning international travel.

Our Travel Medicine specialist reviews how your medical history relates to your specific travel plans. We’ll research where you are traveling and share with you the most up-to-date information, including:

• Immunizations and medications: what you may need and when you need it.
• Recent local health concerns: what’s the latest local health news?
• Dietary advice: what to eat and what to avoid.
• Availability of health care in the area: what’s available and when.
• Potential political unrest and other safety issues: how it could affect you.
• Follow-up care upon your return: scheduling it before you go.

Appointment Scheduling

Anyone requiring pre-travel immunizations should call to schedule an appointment. Many travel-related immunizations are needed at least 30 days prior to traveling . Make your travel medicine appointment as you begin to plan your trip. Ideally, it should be at least six weeks prior to your trip. The earlier the appointment, the more time immunizations have to take effect.

To schedule a Travel Medicine appointment: • St. Cloud and Sartell locations, call 320-200-3200 • Willmar location, call 320-441-5313

While many services are covered by insurance, it is important for you to check with your insurance provider to determine whether these travel medicine services are covered by your plan.

For more information about immunizations required for travel, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelers' Health website .

Get Vaccinated Before You Travel

It’s important to plan ahead to get the shots required for all countries you and your family plan to visit.

Protect your child and family when traveling in the United States or abroad by:

• Getting the shots required for all countries you and your family plan to visit during your trip
• Making sure you and your family are up-to-date on all routine U.S. vaccines
• Staying informed about travel notices and alerts and how they can affect your family’s travel plans

Avoid getting sick or coming back home and spreading the disease to others.

Vaccinate at least a month before you travel

See your doctor when you start to plan your trip abroad. It’s important to do this well in advance.

• Your body needs time to build up immunity.
• You may need several weeks to get all the doses of the vaccine.
• Your primary doctor may not stock travel vaccines. Visit a travel medical clinic .
• You’ll need time to prepare for your pre-travel appointment .
• If the country you visit requires a yellow fever vaccine , only a limited number of clinics have the vaccine and will probably be some distance from where you live. You must get it at least 10 days before travel.

Find out which vaccines are recommended or required for the countries you plan to visit .

TIP : Save time by getting routine vaccines during the same doctor visit. Use the Vaccine Self-Assessment Tool and discuss the results with your doctor. It tells you which U.S. recommended vaccines you (19 years and older) or your child (birth – 18 years) might need.

Last-minute travelers

When traveling to another country be aware your doctor may not carry a travel vaccine and you may have to visit a medical clinic.

Many travel vaccines require multiple shots or take time to become fully effective. But some multiple-dose vaccines (like hepatitis A) can still give you partial protection after just one dose. Some can also be given on an “accelerated schedule,” meaning doses are given in a shorter period of time.

• Discover and learn about specific diseases that can affect you while traveling
• What to do if you get sick after traveling
• Vaccines & Immunizations

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• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

How to find a COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota

If you're newly eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, where do you start?

Editor’s Note: This story was last updated in April, 2021, and may contain outdated information. Find our latest reporting on the pandemic here .

Updated: April 5, 2021 | Posted: March 26, 2021

• Sign up Latest COVID-19 updates in our morning newsletter
• Understanding COVID Today Analysis of COVID-19 numbers in Minnesota

If you’re 16 or older, you’re finally eligible to receive a vaccine in Minnesota, as of March 30. For some people, that news arrived months earlier than expected.

So: Now what? 

The process of finding a vaccine can be confusing. There are a lot of options. There are two-shot vaccines — from Pfizer and Moderna — and a one-shot vaccine — from Johnson & Johnson. And if you’re new to the process, now that your eligibility is changing, this all might be wholly overwhelming.

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Here's what you need to know about the many ways to sign up for vaccination in Minnesota — and what to consider as you do.

First: Be patient.

Just because a person is eligible doesn’t mean they’ll be able to get a shot immediately. While the state’s weekly vaccine supply is growing, demand for is expected to continue to outpace that supply for at least the next few weeks. 

And if you’re under 18 or helping someone who’s under 18 to sign up for vaccination: Keep in mind that, so far, only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for 16- and 17-year-olds. Make sure that, as you look for vaccine appointments, you’re signing up for the Pfizer doses.

Next: Understand the sources.

It’s important to know that the streams of vaccine coming into Minnesota are distributed in several different ways. And the providers administering the doses might have their own sets of priorities for who their doses are meant to reach.

For instance: A health care provider might prioritize older patients or those with specific health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Or: A public health department or hospital system might host a vaccination clinic for people who live within a certain neighborhood or region, as a way of connecting people with vaccine who might not otherwise be able to easily access it.

State and federal governments are also still prioritizing folks who are at the greatest risk of COVID-19, including specific underserved communities. 

Big picture, much of the vaccine coming through state Health Department channels is distributed among the state’s large health care providers. But some vaccine supply is also distributed by tribal, county and local public health departments; by smaller providers and through community collaborations or directly by the state Health Department at community clinics.

Vaccine supply is also getting to Minnesota through some federal avenues, as well — including Indian Health Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Finally: Look in multiple places.

For the best shot at getting a vaccine appointment, your best bet is to check for availability through multiple avenues.

And if you’re lucky enough to get more than one appointment — sometimes it happens! — be sure to cancel any you don’t intend keep, so others can take your place. Here’s a guide to thinking through the ethics of where, when and how you get your vaccine .

• 4 questions To help sort through the ethics of getting a COVID vaccine before you’re eligible

State health leaders and Gov. Tim Walz are urging all Minnesotans to sign up for alerts through the state’s vaccine connector tool — which is being used to connect people with vaccine appointments at the state’s community clinics, as they become available.

But it’s also helpful to check other avenues — such as health care providers, pharmacies and others — in the meantime. Some unofficial Facebook groups and vaccine search engines have also cropped up, as more people try to make appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Scroll down to learn more about the options that apply to you. Click on a link to jump to a section.

Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector

Health care providers, health department community vaccine clinics, local public health departments, veterans affairs health care system, federally qualified health care clinics , tribal health departments, state fairgrounds fema clinic, covid-19 in minnesota.

A good place to begin is with Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector tool . 

Fill out a brief questionnaire, and you’ll get contacted when an appointment is available at a state-run vaccine clinic near you. As of early April, the state is hosting temporary clinics as needed, and running eight community vaccination clinics in cities around Minnesota:

Bloomington

Minneapolis

The state is also partnering with the federal government to operate a temporary vaccination clinic at the Minnesota state fairgrounds for eight weeks, beginning April 14. That clinic — supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency — will prioritize people who live in nearby ZIP codes with higher vulnerability to the spread of COVID-19.

Each of these clinics require an appointment for a vaccine, and none allow walk-ins.

If a spot opens up at a clinic near you, you’ll get an email, text or phone message. The state has an explainer with details about where that communication will be coming from, and what to look out for .

And if you have questions about the state-run clinics — or if you’re having trouble filling out the Vaccine Connector form or would prefer to register over the phone — you can call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-431-2053 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

But don’t stop there. There are now many options for vaccine appointments around the state. The state Health Department has produced a map and search tool to help you find vaccine locations close to where you live.

• Sign up Minnesota's Vaccine Connector
• More instructions The Vaccine Connector tool and state-run clinics
• Map and search Find vaccine locations statewide

If you’re a patient at one of the large health care or hospital systems around the state, chances are good that you’ll be contacted by your provider when they have a vaccine available for you. After being contacted, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for a specific time slot and location to be vaccinated.

Many providers are continuing to prioritize vaccinating their patients according to risk factors like age and health conditions that make some more vulnerable to COVID-19.

While you wait, it’s a good idea to make sure that your health account is up to date with your existing providers, especially if you haven’t received care recently.

And some systems will allow you to sign up for a new account — and for a vaccine appointment — even if you have not been a patient with them before. 

Many providers are asking their patients for patience. Even though the state anticipates receiving more vaccine from the federal government in the coming weeks, demand will continue to outpace supply. M Health Fairview, for example, said in late March that its vaccine appointments are booked three weeks out. 

Here are some links for vaccine information from some of the state’s largest providers: 

Mayo Clinic : You must have been a Mayo patient in the past two years. If you are not a Mayo patient but you live in one of 20 southern Minnesota counties , you can sign up here for a text alert when you become eligible for an open Mayo vaccination appointment.

HealthPartners : You must have been a HealthPartners patient in the past, and you must have an online account. If you are a primary caregiver to a person with complex medical needs, or if you live in a multigenerational household, you can update your online account to attest to that fact, and will become part of HealthPartners’ priority group.

M Health Fairview : You don’t need to be a patient to sign up. Twin Cities-area appointment openings are released on Tuesdays around 8 a.m. 

Allina : Patients will be notified when they’re selected to make an appointment.

Essentia Health : You do not need to be a patient to sign up for an appointment. Essentia patients can schedule their vaccine appointment through Essentia’s online patient portal. If you are not an Essentia patient, you can sign up here . You may also call 833-494-0836 to schedule one.

Sanford Health : Sanford patients will be contacted when a dose is available. Sanford recommends that anyone who’s interested in a vaccine fill out a vaccine registration form .

St. Luke’s : Current St. Luke’s patients can make a vaccination appointment through its online patient portal . If you’re not a St. Luke’s patient, you can still request an appointment, but need to do so over the phone or via email. Details here .

CentraCare : Patients will be contacted when appointments are available to them. To schedule an appointment — or to find out if you’re eligible under CentraCare’s priority groups — sign up here .

Hennepin Healthcare : Patients are being contacted directly when appointments are available to them.

Many pharmacies around the state are receiving vaccine shipments directly from the federal government, rather than the state. Because of that, they may have available vaccine supply when health care providers do not.

Most major pharmacy chains in Minnesota require you to make an appointment on their websites. For some, you can sign up to receive emails when appointments open up. Others offer waiting lists, for people to be called with little notice: 

Sam’s Club : You don’t have to be a Sam’s Club member to make a vaccine appointment.

Thrifty White

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also set up a website to find pharmacy appointments near you.

• Vaccine Finder Locate a pharmacy near you that's taking vaccine appointments

The state Health Department has established seven community vaccine clinics. As of the end of March, those clinics are located in Bloomington, Duluth, Mankato, Minneapolis, Rochester, St. Cloud and St. Paul. 

The state has also established — and will continue to announce — temporary clinics in other locations, as the need arises.

To sign up for the chance to be randomly chosen to make an appointment at one of the state-run community clinics, visit the state’s Vaccine Connector website .

Be sure to keep an eye on your email spam folder, so you don’t miss a note. And you may not want to ignore incoming phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize for the next few weeks. Phone calls alerting you to an available vaccine appointment will arrive from 954-716-7771.

The state is also distributing vaccine doses to local public health departments, although they typically don’t receive as much vaccine as health care providers and pharmacies.

Most county health departments will continue to prioritize vaccinating people in previously high-risk groups: For instance, people with underlying health conditions and certain groups of essential workers. They are also working to connect hard-to-reach members of their local communities with the COVID-19 vaccine.

And because each local public health department is distributing the vaccine each week according to the specific needs of the area, it’s best to check with your local department to see if they’re making appointments for the general public.

Find a full list of Minnesota’s local public health departments here .

Some local health departments allow residents to register for a vaccine appointment, or vaccine-related alerts, on their websites. Here are a few examples — though this is by no means an exhaustive list!

Carver County

Freeborn County : Waiting list sign-ups available

Hennepin County

Horizon Public Health : Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens and Traverse counties

Ramsey County : Alerts and updates only

Scott County

St. Louis County

Steele County

All enrolled veterans are eligible to be vaccinated through the VA, but you must be enrolled in the VA’s health care system to make an appointment.

Call the Minneapolis VA at 612-467-1301, or the St. Cloud VA at 320-252-1670 to schedule an appointment. 

Several VA community clinics have been scheduled for the next couple months, in the northwest Twin Cities metro area, Albert Lea, Duluth-Superior, Mankato, Rice Lake and Rochester. 

If you’re a veteran, spouse or caregiver and want to keep up to date with COVID-19 vaccine developments at the VA, you can sign up for updates.

• Minneapolis VA health care system COVID-19 vaccine information
• St. Cloud VA health care system COVID-19 vaccine information
• Systemwide COVID-19 vaccinations at the VA
• Updates Sign up for more information from the VA

The federal government is sending vaccine doses directly to health care clinics that serve underserved and hard-to-reach populations, primarily in urban centers and rural areas.

Examples of federally qualified health care clinics include Lake Superior Community Health Center in Duluth, Open Door Health Center in Mankato, People's Center Clinics & Services in Minneapolis, and Minnesota Community Care in St. Paul. 

These clinics are reaching out directly to patients when they have vaccine available. But if you are a patient of one of these clinics, call or check their website to see if appointments are open. 

Tribal health departments around the state are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to members — and some are also vaccinating people who aren’t tribal citizens, but live in surrounding communities. Here is a snapshot of the many vaccination opportunities across the 11 Native nations in Minnesota.

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is vaccinating all Indian Health Service patients 18 and older . Elders 55 and older, as well as others who have underlying health conditions, are being prioritized. Eligible patients can call the band’s 24/7 COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 218-368-4763.

The band has also expanded its vaccine eligibility to anyone who lives in several cities and towns in the surrounding community, regardles of whether they’re a band member. Those locations include: Bemidji, Bena, Blackduck, Boy River, Cass Lake, Deer River, Federal Dam, Inger, Kelliher, LaPorte, Longville, Remer, Tenstrike and Walker.

Appointments and proof of residence are required.

The White Earth Nation continues to host vaccine clinics at locations across the White Earth Reservation for anyone 18 or older who lives, works or owns property on the reservation, as well as tribal members and members of their households.

White Earth is also holding clinics in the Twin Cities metro area for tribal members and members of their household.

Appointments are required. Check the White Earth Facebook page for upcoming clinic details .

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is holding regular vaccine clinics for people who are over the age of 18 and are Mille Lacs Band members, live in a Mille Lacs Band member home or are an essential employee of the Mille Lacs Band.

Registration is required. Check the Mille Lacs Band’s Facebook page for details .

• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe COVID-19 vaccine news and information
• White Earth Nation Facebook page
• Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Facebook page

FEMA is partnering with the state Health Department to operate a temporary community vaccination clinic at the Minnesota state fairgrounds this spring.

The clinic is set to run for eight weeks, beginning April 14, with the goal of vaccinating more than 100,000 people total with either the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

That clinic will prioritize people who live in nearby ZIP codes with a high “social vulnerability index,” which is a measure that the CDC uses to help determine areas of greatest need for vaccine support.

The fairgrounds clinic will support the following nearby Twin Cities area ZIP codes:

55101, 55102, 55103, 55104, 55106, 55107, 55109, 55111, 55112, 55113, 55114, 55117, 55118, 55119, 55130, 55402, 55403, 55404, 55405, 55406, 55407, 55408, 55411, 55412, 55413, 55415, 55420, 55421, 55423, 55425, 55428, 55429, 55430, 55432, 55435, 55344, 55454, 55458

All vaccinations at the fairgrounds site will be by appointment only and will be administered seven days a week. The vaccine is free — and recipients aren’t required to show an ID or medical insurance card when they arrive to get their shot.

State health officials said in early April that they will share more information soon about how Minnesotans can sign up for the clinic, but added that if you live in the eligible ZIP codes, you should register on the state’s Vaccine Connector website — or call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-431-2053 — to be chosen for an appointment.

Data in these graphs are based on the Minnesota Department of Health's cumulative totals released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at the  Health Department website .

The coronavirus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, coughs and sneezes, similar to the way the flu can spread.

• COVID-19 in Minnesota Full coverage from MPR News
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• Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous
• Cannabis, sneezes and a welcome decline in respiratory diseases
• New Minnesota hospitalizations steady for flu, down for COVID and RSV

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The CDC issues new rules for bringing dogs into the U.S., aimed at keeping out rabies

Traveling internationally with a dog — or adopting one from abroad — just got a bit more complicated. The CDC issued new rules intended to reduce the risk of importing rabies. mauinow1/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

Traveling internationally with a dog — or adopting one from abroad — just got a bit more complicated. The CDC issued new rules intended to reduce the risk of importing rabies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new rules Wednesday aimed at preventing dogs with rabies from coming into the United States.

Under the new regulations, all dogs entering the U.S. must appear healthy, must be at least six months old, must have received a microchip, and the owner must verify the animal either has a valid rabies vaccine or has not been in a country where rabies is endemic in the last six months.

Dogs coming from a country that is considered at high risk for rabies and who received a rabies vaccine from another country must meet additional criteria. Those include getting a blood test before they leave the other country to make sure the animal has immunity against rabies, a physical examination upon arrival and getting a U.S. rabies vaccine. If the dog doesn't have a blood test showing immunity, it must be quarantined for 28 days.

These are much stricter requirements than existing regulations for dog importation — for those who want to adopt from abroad and for those traveling internationally with their pets.

Shots - Health News

Vaccine hesitancy affects dog-owners, too, with many questioning the rabies shot.

But, U.S pet owners shouldn't panic, says Dr. Emily Pieracci , a CDC veterinary medicine officer. "This really isn't a big change," she says. "It sounds like a lot, but not when you break it down, it's really not a huge inconvenience for pet owners."

Rabies was eliminated in dogs in the United States in 2007 , but unvaccinated canines can still contract the disease from rabid wildlife such as raccoons, skunks or bats.

And rabies remains one of the deadliest diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans around the world. Globally, about 59,000 people die from rabies each year. The illness is nearly always fatal once a person begins to experience symptoms .

Today, pet dogs in the United States are routinely vaccinated against rabies.

"This new regulation is really set to address the current challenges we're facing," Pieracci says. Those include an increased risk of disease "because of the large-scale international movement of dogs," she adds, as well as fraudulent documentation for imported dogs.

The U.S. imports an estimated 1 million dogs each year. In 2021, amid a surge of pandemic-inspired dog adoptions, the CDC suspended importations from 113 countries where rabies is still endemic because of an increase in fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates. The countries include Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, Vietnam, North Korea, Nepal, China and Syria.

That suspension will end when the new rules go into effect Aug. 1.

"This will bring us up to speed with the rest of the international community which already has measures in place to prevent the importation of of rapid dogs," Pieracci said. "So, we're playing catch-up in a sense."

The new regulations replace rules that date back to 1956. Those rules only required that dogs be vaccinated before entering the country.

To control rabies in wildlife, the USDA drops vaccine treats from the sky

"As you can imagine a lot has changed since then," Pieracci says. "International travel has increased dramatically and people's relationships with dogs have changed since the 1950s. During that time, it really wasn't common for dogs to be considered family member. They didn't sleep in peoples' beds. They certainly didn't accompany them on international trips."

The new rules won praise from the American Veterinary Medical Association . The organization "is pleased to see the implementation of this new rule that will help protect public health and positively impact canine health and welfare," said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the AVMA in a statement to NPR.

Dog rescue advocates also welcomed the changes.

"This updated regulation will allow us to continue bringing dogs to the U.S. safely and efficiently," Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International, said in a statement.

"We have seen that dogs have been a lifeline for U.S. service members during their deployments. One of our key programs reunites these service members and their animal companions here in the U.S. once they have returned home," she said. "The CDC's commitment to improving its regulations has a profound impact on the animals and service members we support, and this new policy is an important piece of that effort."

• importing dogs

Immunization Information for International Travelers

• Immunization Information for International Travelers Home
• International Travel Health Clinics

Criteria for Clinics Providing Yellow Fever Vaccinations

Related topics.

• International Travel and Infectious Diseases
• Measles (Rubeola)
• Mosquitoborne Diseases

Contact Info

Information to determine your clinic's ability to comply with the requirements to become a yellow fever vaccination site in Minnesota.

Download PDF version formatted for print: Criteria for Clinics Providing Yellow Fever Vaccinations (PDF)

To be authorized to provide yellow fever vaccination as part of an international travel health clinic by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), a facility must agree to:

Provide comprehensive personal travel consultation and risk assessment to patients before and after international travel, including:

• Having knowledgeable staff with training and experience in the field(s) of Travel Medicine, Tropical Medicine, and/or Infectious Diseases.
• Providing geographically defined information regarding precautions and considerations when traveling such as the prevention and management of injuries and foodborne, waterborne, vectorborne, and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Responding to special concerns or issues of patients with diverse medical conditions, such as those who may be pregnant or immunocompromised, and those traveling with infants and children.
• Accessible hours for patients to use the facility, e.g., including Saturdays and/or evenings.
• The availability of an infectious disease practitioner to provide consultation, either as part of the facility's staff or as an identified adjunct to it.
• Knowledge of and ability to recognize signs and symptoms of common diseases in returning travelers.
• Ensure that the clinic obtains one official yellow fever vaccination stamp using the Minnesota license number of a provider currently practicing at the facility. This number will be on file at MDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If the provider, whose license number is on the stamp leaves the clinic, ensure that a new stamp is obtained and the old one is mailed to MDH. If a stamp is lost or stolen, report it to MDH immediately.
• Only administer yellow fever vaccine at the address indicated in the certification letter, and never redistribute the vaccine to other sites.
• Provide travel vaccinations to include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, pneumococcal, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, rotavirus, human papillomavirus, varicella, zoster, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and yellow fever. The facility must also provide prophylaxis for malaria.
• Have appropriate vaccine storage units for vaccine. Combination refrigerator/freezers with one exterior door (dormitory-style refrigerator/freezers) are not acceptable.
• Ensure appropriate storage and handling procedures are in place for all vaccines by following best practices standards as described in the CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Recommendations and Guidelines and the CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit . Review procedures annually.
• Ensure that a physician will be immediately available to handle any severe adverse reactions, which are more common though still rare with travel vaccines.
• Ensure that a protocol is in place regarding anaphylaxis treatment, that staff receive training, and that the protocol and training are reviewed annually. In addition, the clinic must demonstrate appropriate and adequate knowledge of basic life support and CPR.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the procedure for reporting vaccine adverse reactions to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
• Have an agreement with a laboratory to test and diagnose parasite infections.
• Complete the CDC Yellow Fever Vaccine Course . A Continuing Education Certificate for each staff member should be in the clinic's records prior to receiving authorization to provide yellow fever vaccination as part of an international travel health clinic.
• Demonstrate adequate resources for acquiring up-to-date information on travel recommendations, restrictions, and requirements, e.g., CDC's "Yellow Book" and Travel Health website ; travel warnings of the U.S. State Department; the World Health Organization's International Travel and Health Vaccinations Requirements and Health Advice ; and TRAVAX .
• Participate in periodic workshops and conferences directly related to travel medicine.
• Complete the Yellow Fever Reauthorization Form for the clinic every other year to continue to be a Minnesota Authorized Yellow Fever Clinic.

If interested in becoming a Minnesota Authorized Yellow Fever Clinic, call 651-201-5522.

Planned outage: Files stored in our eDOCS platform may be temporarily unavailable today from noon to 1 p.m.

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News releases

May 13, 2024

Latest news releases

I-35 single lane closures at Twin Ports Interchange May 14

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation to close single lanes on southbound I-35 between Garfield Avenue and 27th Avenue West Tuesday, May 14. Closures will occur between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Additional lane closures will occur in the Twin Ports Interchange project area over the next few weeks.  Motorists are encouraged to check the website at: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/twin-ports-interchange/ , follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/groups/MnDOTnortheast , or check www.511mn.org for real-time traffic and travel information.

Body of the news release goes here.

New 'Princess and the Frog' Disney attraction gets opening date

Walt Disney World Resort will open the attraction in Florida starting this June.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure , a brand new attraction based off of Disney’s "The Princess and the Frog" movie will be opening at Walt Disney World Resort on June 28. The announcement was made on the Sunday, May 12, episode of "American Idol" after Jenifer Lewis , who voices Mama Odie in the original movie, sang a rendition of "Dig A Little Deeper," from the original "The Princess and the Frog" soundtrack.

"You’ll join Princess Tiana on an adventure through the bayou as she prepares to host a one-of-a- kind celebration during Mardi Gras season where everyone is welcome," read a Disney Parks Blog post describing the brand-new attraction. "Along the way, you will see some familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou into the next chapter of Tiana’s story," the post continued.

Talent behind music for highly anticipated 'The Princess and the Frog' attraction revealed

Music from the bayou will also play a significant role in the new ride which features a fun twist, according to the post.

"Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also feature original music and some familiar tunes from the beloved movie, and so much more... including an incredibly thrilling 50-foot drop!" read the post.

The post also noted that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Park in California will also be ready to welcome visitors later this year.

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1st look at Disney's new attraction based on 'The Princess and the Frog'

Disney's Splash Mountain to be re-themed to the 'Princess and the Frog'

The post from Disney shared details from the celebration of the announcement of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in the Crescent City. Grammy-award winning artist PJ Morton, who helped produce the music on the soundtrack played to visitors of the attraction, joined members of the legendary New Orleans culinary Chase family, "The Princess and the Frog’s" Princess Tiana and Louis to celebrate the nod to New Orleans. New Orleans' St. Augustine High School Marching Band also joined the celebration.

In 2020, Disney announced Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort would be re-themed to reflect the story of "The Princess and the Frog."

Previously, the attraction was named Splash Mountain and featured characters from "The Song of the South," a controversial film from 1946 that was criticized for racist and offensive depictions of Black people and misrepresenting the culture of the South in the 1800s.

In 2021, a first-look at the ride arrived detailing the story that the new revamped ride will tell. "As seen in this latest rendering of the attraction, the story will take place after the final kiss as Naveen and Louis join Tiana on her latest adventure -- her first-ever Mardi Gras performance -- during which some original yet familiar music will bring guests into the story," read a Disney Parks Blog at the time.

Disney's team of Imagineers traveled to New Orleans and Louisiana frequently to research and gather information to make the ride reflective of the famed city and region.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News and "Good Morning America."

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What is COVID-19?

Who can get covid-19, can i travel if i recently had covid-19, what can travelers do to prevent covid-19, more information.

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance has been updated. The content of this page will be updated soon.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets and small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus spreads easily in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings.

People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms   – ranging from no or mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to the virus. Possible symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, new loss of taste and smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Anyone can get COVID-19. However, some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. These include people who are older, are  immunocompromised , or have certain  disabilities , or have  underlying health conditions .  Vaccination, past infection, and timely access to testing and treatment can help protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19.

Yes, you can travel once you have ended isolation . Check CDC guidance for additional precautions, including testing and wearing a mask around others. If you recently had COVID-19 and are recommended to wear a mask, do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you are unable to wear a mask whenever around others.

Get  up to date  with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel and take steps to protect yourself and others . Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don’t travel while sick.

If you have a  weakened immune system  or  are at increased risk for severe disease talk to a healthcare professional before you decide to travel.  If you travel, take multiple prevention steps to provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. These include improving ventilation and spending more time outdoors, avoiding sick people, getting tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms, staying home if you have or think you have COVID-19, and seeking treatment if you have COVID-19.

Consider getting travel insurance in case you need medical care abroad .

Consider getting a COVID-19 test if you:

• Develop COVID-19 symptoms before, during, or after travel.
• Will be traveling to visit someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
• Were in a situation with a greater risk of exposure during travel (e.g., in an indoor, crowded space like an airport terminal while not wearing a mask).

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare professional, and tell them about your recent travel.

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Dallas County leaders urge residents to stay current with all vaccines

Covid-19 vaccines are free, the county says, and available at all of the health department's immunization clinics, by nbcdfw staff • published may 13, 2024 • updated on may 13, 2024 at 3:40 pm.

Dallas County leaders are urging people in the county to get up to date on vaccines before the start of the summer travel season.

While vaccines became a hot topic over the pandemic, county leaders and public health officials want to make sure people don't become complacent and that they are heeding recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins and Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang on Monday were joined by several residents over 65, including Jenkins's own mother, to remind seniors to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

"The most recent dominant strains of the virus that causes COVID-19 serves as a reminder that the virus isn't going away and individuals continue to get sick and face ongoing impacts from long COVID," said Jenkins.

Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters .

Huang also said anyone who gets their COVID-19 vaccine will be eligible to receive a $25 Walmart gift card.

The CDC recently recommended that this high-risk age group get an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for added protection from the virus and to also include the vaccine for Mpox .

Mpox vaccines are especially important for people in the LGBTQ+ community.

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Officials encourage people to get the vaccines now, before taking off on summer trips or attending large summer gatherings where there are more opportunities to be exposed.

Though this school year is not yet quite wrapped up, the county health department is also encouraging parents to get back-to-school immunizations done sooner rather than later and well before students head back to school in August.

NEW COVID-19 VARIANT KP.2

A new variant of the COVID-19 virus has taken over and health experts are predicting a small summer wave .

The variant is called KP.2 and it makes up the largest share of new infections in the U.S.

The CDC said KP.2 became the dominant strain of the virus in April.

While hospitalizations have reached record lows in recent weeks, less than a quarter of U.S. adults have received the updated COVID-19 booster.

COUNTY HEALTH VACCINE INFORMATION

• Dallas County HHS COVID-19 information
• Dallas County HHS Mpox information

DALLAS COUNTY VACCINE INFORMATION

The Dallas County Health and Human Services Department has a half dozen clinics around the county where residents can obtain vaccinations.

All clinics can provide all vaccines.

For a list of clinics, hours, fees, and availability, click here . All DCHHS Immunization Clinics are administering all COVID-19 vaccines for free.

WEST NILE VIRUS

Huang also warned that with the late spring and summer comes the threat of West Nile virus. He recommended people continue to follow the 4D's and limit activity around dusk and dawn.

How to Protect Yourself From Mosquito Bites

• Dress  in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent.
• DEET : Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent.
• Drain  standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days.

It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds) . While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites

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