St. Louis County COVID-Vaccine + Test Clinic Updates

Residents living in the Northland have wide access to a variety of COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic sites; most of these community clinics offer free access (at least to the consumer) to the necessary tools needed to combat the virus and its variants.

The St. Louis County Public Health Department has issued an update on some of the upcoming dates, times, and locations for the COVID019 vaccine and testing clinic sites that they provide. These sites are specifically targeted to ensure access is easy for everyone.

Here's a look at their upcoming vaccine clinic details:

Wednesday, February 2 - 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM - at the Duluth Transit Center, 228 West Michigan Street.
Friday, February 4 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - at the Good Fellowship Community Center, 1242 88th Avenue West in Duluth's Morgan Park neighborhood.
Friday, February 4 - 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon - at the St. Louis County Government Services Center-Virginia, 201 South 3rd Avenue West in Virginia.

At each of these clinics, the St. Louis County Public Health Department will offer Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines and boosters, as well as the smaller dose Pfizer vaccine designed for children ages 5 to 11.

Irina Shatilova

St. Louis County health officials remind the general public that boosters are recommended for everyone age 12-plus who received their original doses of Pfizer or Moderna more than five months ago, or anyone who received the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine more than two months ago. Adults may choose to receive a different booster than their original vaccine.

These clinics offer access to vaccines without an appointment needed. However, officials strongly recommend making one in advance to assure dosage, time, and staffing needs. Visit stlouiscountymn.gov/vaccineregistration to get signed up for your slot.

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As far as COVID-19 testing sites go, a variety of different access locations and options are available to St. Louis County residents. Here is a run down of where these testing sites are located, what days they're available, and what times they are open:

Wednesdays: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Eveleth Auditorium, 421 Jackson Street, Eveleth
Thursdays: 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM - Vermilion Community College gymnasium, 1900 Camp Street, Ely
Fridays: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM - St. Louis County Public Works Facility in Virginia, 7823 Highway 135, Virginia

At each of these three spots, St. Louis County Public Health will offer both the nasal swab Antigen tests - which provide results in 1 to 3 hours, as well as PCR saliva tests from Vault, which typically provide results in 24 to 48 hours. There is no appointment needed to these COVID-19 testing sites.

JJ Gouin

Additionally, St. Louis County Public Health will continue to offer the free COVID-19 tests in Ely once a week - as long as the need there remains high. Originally the testing site at Vermilion Community College was designed to be a operated on a trial basis, but for the time being - while cases run high - it will be a semi-permanent testing site.

What Do I Do If I Lose My COVID-19 Vaccination Card?

When you get your COVID-19 vaccine, you're handed a card that details the date, manufacturer variety, and location of your dose. If you're getting one of the two-dose vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna), you'll need that card to coordinate your second and final dose. But even with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and even after getting the second shot, you'll need to keep that card in a safe place.

While nationwide vaccine mandates aren't a thing at the present time, there are a variety of times you might need that card even after completing the vaccine process. Many schools (primary, secondary, and higher education) are requiring the COVID-19 vaccine similar to other vaccinations. Additionally, some entertainment venues and mass transportation are requiring either proof of a negative COVID test or the vaccine card.

So what happens if you lose it? Relax. There are ways of obtaining a replacement - and they differ slightly whether you've lost it before getting both doses or after.

Things To Do Before + After Getting The COVID Vaccine

A variety of things to do to get ready for the COVID-19 vaccine as well as some considerations to take afterwards.

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.