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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

As MN Expands Eligibility, False Vaccine Info Still a Concern

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Friday, March 26, 2021   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce today that Minnesota soon will expand COVID vaccine eligibility to all adults. But public-health experts warn progress could be hindered if false claims about vaccines keep spreading.

After some initial headaches, Minnesota officials say they've made strides in distributing vaccines to high-risk groups. And on Tuesday next week, all residents 16 and older will be eligible for a shot.

Assistant Professor Aaron Hunt is the coordinator of the Masters of Public Health Program at South Dakota State University. He said to stay on the right path, residents need to adhere to messaging from trusted sources.

He said he worries too many people still might believe claims, mainly posted on social media, that the shots are deadly.

"The death one, yeah, that was really concerning and very misleading," said Hunt. "Because the clinical trials - when they were closely monitoring thousands of people - they did not see that at all."

He said while the vaccinations came together rather quickly, they did go through rigorous stages of review. He added that it's crucial for residents to get a vaccination when eligibility opens up because some states are seeing more case activity after a steady decline.

Experts encourage residents to get their information through reputable news organizations or through public-health departments.

A number of national polls have shown that a high percentage of Republican men will choose not to get a vaccine.

Hunt said given some of the conservative areas in the Midwest, that is a concern. He said politics need to be taken out of the situation.

"This isn't about if you're a Republican, Democrat, independent," said Hunt. "We really just want to slow COVID [and] end this pandemic."

He said people getting vaccinations as soon as they're eligible also can help to slow the COVID variants that have been popping up.

Meanwhile Minnesota health officials say even though the general public soon will get a chance for vaccinations, supplies still dictate when they can get one exactly. And that high risk individuals will still be prioritized.


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