Sherburne County has the lowest COVID-19 vaccine rate in the state. Why?

Mar 09, 20210

AARON LAVINSKY, Star Tribune count

Sherburne County has clinics but no major health care hub; it ranks lowest in percentage of residents who've gotten a first dose.

ST. CLOUD – More than 1 million Minnesotans - 19.3% - have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

That percentage nose-dives in Sherburne County, which has the state's lowest percentage of residents who have received their first dose - 11.6%, which is more than a full percentage point below the next lowest county, Benton, at 12.8%. Sherburne also has the second lowest percentage of residents who have completed the series: 6.3%, ahead of only Isanti County.

Why? It's likely a combination of the county's lack of a major health care system, accessibility and central Minnesota's "independent mind-set," said Dr. George Morris, CentraCare's COVID-19 incident response commander.

https://www.startribune.com/sherburne-county-has-the-lowest-covid-19-vaccine-rate-in-the-state-why/600031935/