ST. PAUL, MN — Deputy Minority Leader Anne Neu Brindley, R-North Branch, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Walz's vaccine announcement.
"For weeks Republicans have been pushing Gov. Walz for a focused approach on seniors for vaccination. Today's news is a step in the right direction, and we appreciate that he is finally committing to prioritizing those who are most vulnerable to this disease. Vaccinating our seniors will lead to a dramatic drop in deaths and should allow us to continue safely reopening our economy in the coming weeks as cases and deaths continue to drop.
"Unfortunately, the administration has been sending mixed messages and has needlessly complicated the rollout with complex and personally invasive signup forms that could prove to be barriers for older Minnesotans. Top advocacy groups for aging Minnesotans have criticized the administration's efforts as confusing and frustrating. It's clear more work needs to be done — we need a simplified message and approach like we've seen in other states that ensures Minnesotans of all ages are clear about when they can expect to be eligible for the vaccine."
Earlier this week, AARP Minnesota sent a letter criticizing the Walz administrations handling of vaccine distribution, saying it left many Minnesota seniors feeling "frustrated and confused."