Governor Tim Walz announced Minnesota’s health care providers will be ready to vaccinate children 6 months and older against COVID-19 after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel voted to recommend vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for that age group.
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Providers cannot vaccinate these children now. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) must first issue vaccination recommendations, which could happen this weekend.
Following CDC’s recommendations, the federal government will then ship vaccine doses to providers in Minnesota. Federal officials expect the first doses to arrive in the state early next week, if the vaccine is authorized this weekend.
Minnesota’s provider network – primarily medical systems, pediatricians, family practice providers, local clinics, and pharmacies – will administer most COVID-19 vaccines to children between 6 months and 5 years old because of their expertise caring for young children.
The state’s Community Vaccination site at the Mall of America will also offer appointments.
“This is a landmark moment in Minnesota’s fight against the pandemic. Many families have waited long waited for their children to get a COVID-19 shot to help prevent severe illness and keep children in the classroom and activities,†said Governor Walz.
“We have worked with an extensive network of health experts and community partners to help make sure Minnesota families who want a vaccine can get their child the shots. Once the CDC recommends the vaccines, I urge the federal government to quickly ship doses to our providers. Soon, the whole family can finally have strong protection against COVID-19.â€
Once authorized, a network of providers mobilized by the Walz-Flanagan Administration will begin to offer the vaccine to families. Initial demand is expected to be high, and families wishing to get the vaccine in a specific location – such as through their family pediatrician – may need to wait several weeks until appointments are available.
Providers can be found using the Find Vaccine Locations map, which will be updated as vaccines arrive in Minnesota. Initially, appointments may be limited.
Minnesota providers cannot administer vaccines until the CDC formally recommends the shot. A CDC advisory committee is meeting on Friday and Saturday to consider FDA’s authorizations. Following full CDC authorization, the federal government then needs to ship vaccines to providers. Federal officials have projected that the first doses will arrive in Minnesota the week of June 19. ■