WASHINGTON - The Biden Administration has announced plans to distribute the first COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of 5 if the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorize the vaccine next week.

The first vaccinations could start as early as the week of June 20th with the program ramping up over time as more doses are delivered and more appointments become available, according to a statement from the White House.

Ten million vaccine doses will be available for states, Tribes, territories, community health centers, federal pharmacy partners, and others to pre-order.

Eighty-five percent of children under the age of five live within five miles of a potential vaccination site, according to officials.

To ensure that vaccines reach pediatric providers, including those in smaller practices and in rural settings, the shots will be available in package sizes of 100 doses and will come with all of the supplies that health care providers need to serve younger children, including small needles.

Vaccinations will be available at pediatricians’ and other doctors’ offices, community health centers, rural health clinics, children’s hospitals, public health clinics, local pharmacies, and other community-based organizations such as Women, Infants, and Children Program, Head Start, HUD, and Medicaid.

The Administration says it will work with states and other entities to make vaccinations available at convenient hours for children, parents and their guardians—including after school and evenings, and on weekends.