Arizona health officials talk about the availability of second-dose COVID-19
With the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, health experts are talking about whether Arizona has enough second doses to give.
PHOENIX – As of January 16, Arizona is the highest in the country weekly Covid-19 cases and all eyes are on the vaccine deployment, which is still slower than initially expected.
The state announced earlier this week that it will extend Phase 1B of vaccine distribution to people aged 65 to 74.
“The end result is that there are a lot of people in category 1B. There are a lot more people than we have vaccinated,” said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association.
He adds: “The more people you add, the less likely you are to be able to get the people scheduled for follow-up for the second vaccine.”
He says there were already about one million people in phase 1B, which means the state would need about two million doses. Then you take the follow-up booster shot, which should be given only three to four weeks later.
Taking the 65-year-old and older population into account means adding 250,000 extra people to the mix.
“You add 250,000 to the extra million. It just creates saturation within the category,” Humble said.
The director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, dr. Cara Christ, told a news conference this week that the state is giving vaccines to local partners, and will consider the need for a second dose when making any changes.
“We have received our doses so that we can continue to vaccinate those who have already received the first dose and had that 21 or 28 day waiting period,” Christ said.
If you get the first shot and can not get an appointment for the second shot, you will still have some protection, says Humble, but not nearly as much protection as you would both get.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccines in Arizona, visit this link.
CARD: Arizona Coronavirus cases by zip code
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