![Governor Tim Walz and Health Commissioner Jan Malcom spoke outside the COVID vaccination site at the Mall of America, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, Bloomington, Minn. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/K3M4ACR2AZEG4CFKGDGU3KUJVE.jpg?&w=1080)
Minnesota's Mall of America community vaccination site could start taking appointments as soon as Monday to administer COVID-19 shots to preschoolers, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday.
Walz issued a statement following news that a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel voted Wednesday to recommend COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for children age 6 months to 5 years old.
Minnesota health care providers can't give the shots until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a formal recommendation — a decision that could come this weekend.
Should the CDC recommend the vaccine for children as young as 6 months old, the Mall of America community vaccination site will begin administering the vaccine as soon as June 22, Walz said in the statement.
A network of 400 Minnesota clinics, retail sites and pharmacies would be ready as well within days of vaccine arrival.
"Many families have ... long waited for their children to get a COVID-19 shot to help prevent severe illness and keep children in the classroom and activities," Walz said.
