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(Owen Humphreys / PA via AP)
PHOENIX – Maricopa County health officials said on Thursday the county will not lower the age of eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine from 75 to 65 at its county-run sites despite new recommendations from the department from Arizona Health Services.
Arizona’s largest county has made the decision to keep current requirements in place because it does not yet have enough vaccine to open it to 65-74 year olds.
“We know the ADHS has announced it is open to those aged 65 and over, but Maricopa County is dedicated to its current mission of serving people in phase 1A and priority 1B,” said the county medical director. de Maricopa, Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, at a press conference.
“Until we can move forward in this mission, we will not be able to open up and expand to other groups until this vaccine opens its doors.”
On Wednesday, ADHS announced it would lower the age limit for vaccination from 75 to 65, meaning that around 750,000 Arizonans could become eligible with the change; however, the state later clarified that it was up to each county to adopt these recommendations.
“Keep in mind that not all counties are in Phase 1B in Arizona,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of ADHS. KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show Thursday. “And given limited resources, not all counties are able to prioritize the same way as state, so it’s really county by county.”
This extension to Phase 1B was made after federal authorities changed their recommendations to prioritize shots when supply is limited.
According to state officials, 85% of Arizonans who have died from COVID-19 and more than half who have been hospitalized are 65 years of age or older.
Sunenshine said Maricopa County is currently vaccinating about 10,000 people per day at its current distribution sites and is working to add additional sites and partner pharmacies in the coming weeks.
“We don’t know when we will have enough vaccines to include the additional 400,000 people in the 65 and over category,” Sunenshine said.
“When we get to that point, we’ll be ready with additional PODs planned so that we can provide this vaccine to anyone who wants it.”
At state-run sites like State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal, people aged 65 can register for the vaccine even if they are in Maricopa County.
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