[ST. PAUL, MN] — Following the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for 12-to-15-year-olds today, Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota is ready to begin vaccinating this age group this week.

“This is an extraordinary development on our path back to normalcy — we now have nearly 300,000 more Minnesotans eligible to roll up their sleeves and get life-saving protection from this deadly disease,” said Governor Walz. “We have been planning and preparing for this moment and are ready to begin vaccinating teens 12 and older. Start making your plan, Minnesota — let’s get our kids their shot as soon as possible so they are fully vaccinated and protected in time for a fun, safe summer.”

Final federal guidance is expected to be issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later this week following a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices scheduled for Wednesday. The state will announce when final vaccination recommendations are available for providers, and we expect parents can make appointments for vaccinations later this week.

“I am so excited to get our kids back to all the things they love this summer — playing with friends, swimming , camps, sports, walks and bike rides, activities, vacations, and more” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “And now, with the ability to get vaccinated, our teens 12 and older can have a significant level of extra protection to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe. This is a great day for progress and I hope Minnesotans take advantage of this life-saving opportunity and get their shot as soon as possible.”

“The Pfizer vaccine has gone through rigorous clinical trials on children in this age group and has proven to be a highly safe and effective preventative measure against the deadly coronavirus,” said Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “Minnesota parents can feel confident in the science, medical experts, and federal guidelines expanding authorization to 12-to-15-year-olds, and I hope they get their children vaccinated as soon as possible. Every person who gets vaccinated helps us slow the spread of this disease and protect those who cannot get vaccinated.”

Once CDC immunization guidance is issued, Minnesotans age 12 to 15 should be able to get vaccinated at locations where Pfizer vaccines are available. Parent or guardian consent is required for COVID-19 vaccination for people younger than 18 years old.

There are a number of ways to get a Pfizer vaccine:

• Vaccine Connector: You can directly sign up for an appointment at one of the state Community Vaccination Program locations at VaccineConnector.mn.gov.
  • Walk-ins for Minnesotans 12+ will be accepted at state community vaccination sites administering Pfizer vaccines in Bloomington (Mall of America), Saint Paul (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), Lino Lakes and Oakdale.
• Vaccine Locator Map: You can use the Vaccine Locator Map to search for providers who are offering COVID-19 vaccine to Minnesotans ages 12 and older at https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp .
• Vaccine Finder: You can also find COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, which allows you to filter by vaccine manufacturer and search for only Pfizer vaccine appointments.
• Health Care Provider: You can also contact your child’s primary health care provider, local public health department, or a local pharmacy.