Minnesota's independent clinics struggle to get COVID-19 vaccine Providers say focus on large health systems left them behind January 30, 2021 — 12:02pm Text size Copy shortlink: While Minnesota's large health care systems are wrapping up COVID-19 vaccinations for their employees, some independent providers say they are still waiting for the shots despite being in the state's high priority group. Six weeks after the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Minnesota, clinics that are not part of the large health systems are getting their first notification about where they stand in line, although some have not been contacted. "We've had 10 months knowing the vaccine was coming. To think that there was no plan for distribution for that last mile to get the vaccine into arms is a bit frustrating," said Carmelo Cinqueonce, executive director of the Minnesota Dental Association.