Vikings practice field in Eagan will become J&J vaccination site

Some 13,400 Minnesotans will take the field Friday at the Vikings’ practice facility in Eagan — for a shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The Vikings are partnering with the state’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program to provide the massive indoor practice field for vaccinations at their three-year-old headquarters just south of Interstate 494 and Dodd Road.

Health care workers and adults 65 years and older are eligible to participate in the event administering part of the state’s initial shipments of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shots. The event will begin Friday and is expected to last through Tuesday.

Gov. Tim Walz said the Vikings’ event is another example of a growing vaccine network in Minnesota. The state has five other community vaccination sites in Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, Bloomington and St. Paul.

“With more than 1.4 million doses administered to nearly 930,000 Minnesotans, broad community vaccination is in sight and a return to normalcy is within reach,” Walz said. “We are looking forward to being in the stands for high school football under the Friday night lights.”

Last month before the Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell offered all 30 professional football stadiums as vaccine sites. The Vikings chose to use their indoor training facility. Vikings COO Andrew Miller said playing a role in combating the virus is a priority for the organization.

“We believe it’s important for all Minnesotans to get vaccinated,” he said, “and we encourage everyone to sign up for the state’s Vaccine Connector in order to receive updates on vaccination eligibility and opportunities.”

The federal Food and Drug Administration last week authorized emergency use for the COVID vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

Twitter: @rochelleolson