Dear Neighbors, Happy October! It’s hard to believe we’re already mid-way through the month. I hope you’ve had a great start to fall and if you’re a student, teacher, school worker, or parent, the school year is going well for your family and you’re staying healthy. As the Delta variant runs rampant across the state, hospital capacity is running out, and medical professionals are asking for Minnesotans’ help in curbing the spread. Getting a vaccine is effective, safe, and decreases the risk of hospitalization. It’s the best way we can show each other we care about our older loved ones, children who aren’t old enough to get a vaccine yet, and our neighbors with autoimmune disorders who are at higher risk of contracting the virus. It’s hard to imagine the possibility of not being able to access critical emergency services at a hospital in a time when we might need it most, but the threat is real and dangerous. Governor Walz just announced today a COVID-19 action plan to help relieve Minnesota’s increasingly crowded hospitals. Please contact your doctor with any questions and get vaccinated to protect yourself and others in our community and state. How Minnesotans can get their free shot: - Walk in or make an appointment through the Vaccine Connector.
- Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline
- 1-833-431-2053
- Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you.
- Check for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Finder. You can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
- Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
- Employers may also reach out with information about vaccination opportunities.
How Minnesotans can get a free COVID-19 test: Booster InformationIf you’ve received the Pfizer vaccine series, according to updated CDC guidance, you may be eligible for your booster shot. With the effectiveness of the vaccine decreasing over time, the booster will help extend the protection of those who received this variety of shot. For those who received the vaccine at least six months ago, groups eligible for a booster include those who: Boosters are not yet available for those who received the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Visit the Minnesota Vaccine Locator for a location to receive either your booster or initial vaccine series.  New Task Force to Address Missing Black Women and GirlsThere are over 64,000 Black women and girls missing in the U.S. Black women and girls are overrepresented in missing person cases, they receive less media attention, and their cases remain open four times as long as cases involving white women. We’re long overdue for a community conversation and response to this crisis, which is why I authored legislation this year to establish a task force on missing and murdered African American girls. I’m proud to get this bill across the finish line and enacted into law. We’re ready to get to work! Read more about the new taskforce here. Minnesota Values Project SurveyCOVID-19 has created extraordinary challenges for our families, schools, and businesses. Nineteen months of the pandemic have exacerbated the wide disparities Minnesotans continue to face. In response to this, my colleagues and I are reaching out to residents of our state to see how we can deliver assistance and work together to enact policies that reflect our shared values as Minnesotans. You’re invited to take a short, four-question survey to help us in these efforts. It’s critical to have Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, Eagan, and Sunfish Lake residents’ voices represented. Thanks in advance for your engagement!  Keep in TouchPlease continue to reach out anytime with input, questions, or to let me know how I can help at rep.ruth.richardson@house.mn or 651-296-4192. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Have a great weekend. Sincerely, Ruth Richardson State Representative |