PHOENIX – On February 1, the COVID-19 test site at Phoenix Municipal Stadium will turn into a massive vaccination room, but the rollout process in our state continues to see new challenges as Arizonans await their vaccine chance.
The transformation of the stadium is part of a plan to rapidly expand access to vaccines in the state, but the limited supply and locations do not make it simple.
“They tell us, ‘Just go to the website and get it,’ and you go there … it’s a real task to find something,” Henry Wall said.
Wall is 77, lives in the Eastern Valley and can receive the vaccine. He searched online for hours and several days to make an appointment and ended up trapped nowhere near his home.
“I finally had to go to a place in Surprise, about 45 miles away,” Wall said.
This is a testimonial that emphasizes the need for more vaccination rooms. On Thursday, the state announced that Phoenix Municipal Stadium will bring one online next month.
Dr Cara Christ spoke on Thursday morning about the attempt on KTAR 92.3 FM.
“We have created a playbook that can now be recreated in different places,” said dr. Christ said.
She also says it will not be the last state-run POD site to have more jobs. To date, more than 200,000 people across the state have received the vaccine.
Pharmacies will also play an important role.
“We are going to set up 100 pharmacies in the next few weeks with doses available,” said dr. Christ said. “And we have another 800 ready to start if another vaccine comes.”
State leaders on Wednesday opened the distribution of vaccines to 65-year-olds – big plans, but supply is currently limited. Many provinces like Yuma and Pinal cannot move to the group until they get more. Maricopa County is in the same boat.
VACCINATION INTRODUCTION: Maricopa County will not open vaccines for more than 65 years before more vaccines are provided.
Maricopa County will continue to vaccinate priority groups 1A and 1B. (this includes 75+)
– Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) 14 January 2021
“We are not going to be able to open up and expand to other groups until the vaccine is available in stock,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director of Maricopa County Health, said.
However, the state-owned premises will serve 65-year-olds and older, and they will make appointments for the group next Tuesday at 9 a.m., although it is the earliest that anyone in the group can get a chance in February.
“We have heard that the federal government may release additional doses,” said Dr. Sunenshine explains.
Maricopa County says by then they are setting up more distribution sites dedicated to teachers and law enforcement. They also say the site opens a Grand Canyon University next week and is ready to do 500 vaccinations a day.
The Phoenix Union High School District also announced Thursday that four campuses will be used to distribute the coronavirus vaccine to school employees in the district. Officials say the partnership with Maricopa County Public Health will take place over two days, where hundreds of teachers and staff are expected to get the chance.
The pods are set on:
Carl Hayden Community High School
Central High School
Cesar Chavez High School
Maryvale High School
The two-day event runs on 22 and 23 January and a registration link for the event will be sent to all school workers.
But all of this amounts to the federal government fulfilling its promise to flood the states with vaccines in the coming weeks. And the clock ticks.