Doctors Warn: Be Extra Cautious This Fourth of July, and Let the Experts Handle the Fireworks
June 29, 2026
This Fourth of July, Minnesota physicians are once again urging their fellow Minnesotans to leave the fireworks up to the professionals.
Minnesota Medical Association Urges All Minnesota Healthcare Organizations to Adopt COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements
September 1, 2021
At least nine Minnesota health systems require employees to get vaccinated—some as early as this month
The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) Board of Trustees recently approved a proposal urging all Minnesota healthcare organizations—large and small—to adopt COVID-19 vaccine requirements for staff and employees with limited exemptions for medical contraindications or religious beliefs. Already, at least nine Minnesota health systems—Allina Health, Children’s Minnesota, CentraCare, Essentia Health, HealthPartners, Hennepin Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, M Health Fairview and Sanford Health—have mandated the COVID-19 vaccine, with some requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated as early as this month.
“The MMA Board of Trustees was deliberate in our consideration of this issue and sought direct input from MMA physician members on a draft policy,” says MMA President Marilyn Peitso, MD. “Of members who reviewed the policy proposal, 89 percent voted in favor of the Board adopting the proposal.”
In late July, the American Medical Association (AMA), along with 56 other groups representing physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers, released a joint statement calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all U.S. healthcare workers.
“Physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers have demonstrated consistent leadership, courage and resilience throughout this pandemic,” Peitso says. “Their continued leadership in accepting vaccinations will protect immunocompromised individuals, other healthcare employees, and children who are not yet eligible for vaccination. We believe vaccine requirements for healthcare professionals are the right thing to do to protect all Minnesota communities.”
The MMA position also recognizes the health equity impact as COVID-19 has highlighted the health inequities that currently exist with vulnerable populations being more affected than others. As noted by one MMA member, “health care providers have a special responsibility to do everything to redress the inequity[ies], including our personal actions like getting vaccinated.”
About the Minnesota Medical Association
The Minnesota Medical Association is a non-profit professional association representing physicians, residents and medical students. With more than 11,000 members, the MMA is dedicated to being the leading voice of medicine to make Minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.
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Minnesota Physicians Focus on Five Priorities for Legislative Session
February 11, 2026
The state’s largest advocacy group for Minnesota physicians and physicians-in-training will advocate for five key legislative priorities at the Capitol this session, which begins February 17. The group will hold its annual Physicians’ Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 4, bringing together physicians and physicians-in-training from across the state to meet with their elected officials.
“Dozens of healthcare-related bills go through the Capitol each session,” said Lisa Mattson, MD, the Minnesota Medical Association’s (MMA) president. “But to make an impact for patients and medical practice in Minnesota, we really need to focus our efforts on a few top issues.”