'It's been almost a year of trying to keep grandma safe': Vaccines reach older Northlanders, educators This week, nine community vaccine clinics opened in Minnesota, including in Mountain Iron, as part of the state's pilot program. Written By: Andee Erickson | × Registered nurse Jen Christianson prepares the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine before administering it to Cory Kolodji (right) on Friday, Jan. 22, at a vaccine clinic in Mountain Iron. After the vaccine is given, recipients are required to stay for a 15-minute observation period. (Tyler Schank / tschank@duluthnews.com) When a limited number of vaccine appointments opened to Minnesotans ages 65 and older Tuesday, Lynn Kohlhase, of Virginia, had both her smartphone and laptop ready to snag an appointment for her 86-year-old mother who has spent much of the past 10 months isolated.