Minnesota Switches to Lottery to Distribute Vaccine Doses

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St. Paul, MN (AP) - Gov. Tim Walz on Monday announced changes in the sign-up process for a community vaccine program after heavy demand last week crashed a website and angered many people who could not get through.

State officials have shifted from a first-come, first-served system to a lottery, widening the registration window to 24 hours for Minnesotans over 65 to pre-register to be randomly chosen for an appointment.

The state will also hold a mass vaccination event for teachers, school staff and child care workers in the metro area at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.