Dr Cara Christ discusses the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine
Dr. Cara Christ with the Department of Health Services in Arizona spoke to reporters on March 22 after government officials announced that Arizonans 16 or older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
PHOENIX (AP) – Any Arizonan aged 16 and older can now register for a COVID-19 vaccine from March 24 at state-controlled vaccination sites in Maricopa, Pima and Yuma County, Doug Ducey said in a statement.
“Our goal was and remains to get vaccine in the community as quickly, widely and fairly as possible,” Governor Ducey said in a March 22 announcement. ‘priority groups, now is the time to take this critical next step. ‘
Appointments open every Friday at 11 a.m. for State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Tempe, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, University of Arizona in Tucson and Yuma Civic Center in Yuma County.
Websites using the Pfizer vaccine can immunize anyone 16 years of age or older, while the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines have been approved for 18 years and older.
Arizonans ages 16+ can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointment from March 24
This applies to agreements available on state-owned enterprises in the provinces of Maricopa, Pima and Yuma.
Arizona is one of the first states to allow anyone to sign up for vaccine appointments. President Joe Biden has said he wants states to step down by May 1 and seeks to vaccinate anyone who wants to shoot by the end of May.
About 2.9 million doses of vaccine have been given to about 1.1 million people in Arizona so far, according to government officials.
The change only applies to state-owned vaccination sites, which have distributed most of the vaccines in Arizona but are in urban areas. Counties and some pharmacies have their own vaccine stock and admission criteria, such as a health condition or work in an essential industry.
Anyone who needs extra help registering can call the state helpline at 1-844-542-8201.
Find Arizona vaccination sites here: http://azhealth.gov/findvaccine
Schedule an appointment here on a state-owned website: https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/
Health officials on Monday reported 484 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, but no deaths, indicating a further day of downward trends in coronavirus outbreaks.
The total pandemic in Arizona has now risen to 836,737 cases and 16,745 known deaths since the pandemic began.
The number of infections is thought to be much higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest that people can become infected with the virus without feeling sick.
State health officials said the number of confirmed or suspected patients admitted to the coronavirus hospital had dropped to 647 by Sunday.
In addition, the number of ICU beds used by COVID-19 patients dropped to 180.
Arizona’s weekly percentage of positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic tests, an indication of how much the virus is spreading in the community, is at a five-month low.
Read the full version: https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2021/03/arizona-expands-covid-19-vaccination-eligibility-all
The Associated Press contributed to this report.