The Phase 1A rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine for the state of Minnesota was a high stakes collaboration challenge that worked. Learn how epidemiologists, bioethicists, local/regional/tribal public health, and medical leaders from the state’s healthcare systems came together to develop the written guidance of how the initial and limited amount of vaccine would be distributed in the state.
Overview
The Phase 1A rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine for the state of Minnesota was a high stakes collaboration challenge that worked. The Creation In Common team was asked by Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Section to facilitate meetings among epidemiologists, bioethicists, local/regional/tribal public health, and medical leaders from the state’s healthcare systems to develop the written guidance of how the initial and limited amount of vaccine would be distributed in the state. We had less than two months to develop this for the governor’s office.
We had very little time to reflect and a mountain of research to get through. There were key interests outside the collaboration—the CDC was governing the overall guidance on the rollout as we were meeting. Also, the stakes were enormous—older adults and people of color were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and we needed guidance that equitably distributed these initial vaccine resources.
We created a transparent process that was well documented, helped synthesize the data into useful and useable formats, facilitated several meetings that ensured all 36 people attending were heard and had a voice. Also, we worked with our state partners on drafting the recommendations and sharing them with all of our stakeholders in real time. The resulting report, unanimously approved by the 36-member advisory council, was the centerpiece of the governor’s initial vaccine rollout strategy.