BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Health Commission Jan Malcolm and Governor Walz dropped into the Mall of America vaccination site on its final day to thank the staff in person for their work over the past two years.
The number 236K was written in balloons and cookies inside the clinic, to symbolize 236,000-plus shots the MOA clinic crew gave since February of 2021.
"You have our deepest thanks. I can tell you everywhere I go Minnesotans overwhelmingly feel that," Walz told the staffers who gathered around him.
"This is tens of thousands of people who didn’t end up in the hospitals, thousands who did not die just because of this site. That’s really something!"
Malcolm, who led the state's response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, pointed out state agencies were forced to create the playbook from scratch. She said standing up mass vaccination clinics was part of the strategy that saved lives.
"We know the huge, huge toll this has taken on our state, and I think as time unfolds and more and more data become clear the governor’s balanced approach and our hard work together will stand up," Malcolm remarked.
She said public health leaders won't forget the sacrifices made by Minnesota workers, business owners and school students during the pandemic.
"For all the difficulty and all the suffering, we worked hard and we did a good job and have learned so much that will help us be more prepared."
At one point the MOA site was one of 15 walk-in vaccine clinics operated by the Minnesota Dept. of Health. It was the last one to close when the lights went out Friday evening.
The MDH staff reached the conclusion that the existing healthcare clinics and pharmacies now have enough capacity to meet the current demand for shots and boosters. The agency will continue to operate the Find My Vaccine online portal to help people find vaccination options near them and book appointments.
It was a bittersweet moment for Walz and Malcolm, marking their final joint appearance before the health commissioner retires.
"Huge, huge thanks to Minnesotans. Thank you for everything that you have done, everything you have sacrificed," Malcolm told reporters.
She headed the Dept. of Health in the Walz, Dayton and Ventura Administrations in addition to work in the private sector. She appeared with Walz almost daily for news conferences during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her strong advocacy for the governor's emergency orders put her in the crosshairs of Republican lawmakers. The GOP-controlled Senate seriously pondered putting her up for a confirmation vote so they could remove her from office.
"Jan’s candor, her vision, her clarity of describing public health needs and execution of plans to address to those is something the state will be forever indebted for," Walz remarked.
The pair also walked the walk when it came to urging people to get shots, always getting their needle pokes with media cameras around.
How much will she miss the cameras the next time she gets a booster?
"That will be nice!" Malcolm responded, laughing.