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State health officials announce plan to vaccinate kids 5 to 11 when vaccine gets final approval

The shots will be available at more than 1,100 locations across the state, including clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and schools.

ST PAUL, Minn. — We're learning more about what the vaccine rollout will look like here in Minnesota with young kids.

An FDA panel gave the go-ahead on Tuesday for kids 5 to 11 and the CDC will take a vote next week.

Meanwhile, there's already a plan to get those shots out ASAP.

If you do decide to get your child vaccinated, here's what the rollout will look like in Minnesota.

That 5 to 11 age group includes about 505,000 kids in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Health says the first shipment will include about 170,000 doses, and pharmacies will get an additional 80,000 doses.

RELATED: What's the timeline for young kids getting COVID shots after FDA panel vote?

Parents will have plenty of choices to get their kids vaccinated, with shots being made available at more than 530 clinics and hospitals and more than 600 pharmacies.

The mass vaccination clinic at the Mall of America has also tripled its capacity to nearly 1,500 doses a day. Several school districts are also giving out shots.

A recent survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Education showed that 80% of the state’s school districts were interested in hosting a vaccination clinic at their schools. But rolling out the vaccine for young kids won't be the same as it was for the older kids and the adults.

Giving shots to kids requires more training and most kids don't like shots, so dolling them out will take more time and patience.

Also, parents will likely have a lot of questions and concerns, which may also take extra time to address.

A recent survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed 34% of parents want to get their 5-to 11-year-old kids vaccinated right away.

Another 32% want to wait and see and 24% said they will not be getting their kids vaccinated.


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