Extended 24-hour window to pre-register for COVID-19 vaccine opens to those 65+

Tuesday morning, an extended, 24-hour window opened to pre-register for a chance to be selected for appointments at COVID-19 community vaccination clinics throughout the state.

Minnesotans who are 65 and older are able to participate in pre-registration that started at 5 a.m.

Those who want to pre-register can do so online here, from 5 a.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Those unable to pre-register online can call 833-431-2053 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday to do so.

Within the first hour, more than 21,000 people were waiting for their chance to pre-register. However, that quickly whittled down and there was no wait time as of 8 a.m. Meanwhile, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, by about 9 a.m., more than 95,000 people were able to make it through the online system.

State officials announced changes Monday to registration following significant demand last week.

Amid high demand, officials announce updates to Minnesota’s community vaccination efforts

Those who sign up for the pre-registration list have the chance to be randomly selected and do not have to register right away; it is not a first-come, first-served system, according to state officials.

State officials also said they have strengthened the system to handle the expected surge in people wanting to sign up.

Additional updates made to the state’s community vaccination efforts included designating pilot clinics in Blaine and Brooklyn Center to only administer vaccines to those 65 and older this week, and adding Xcel Energy Center as the site of a vaccination event for 15,000 metro area educators, school staff and child care providers.

Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates.

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