Limited COVID Vaccine Supply, Locations Affecting Arizona Deployment

PHOENIX – On February 1, the Phoenix Municipal Stadium COVID-19 test site will turn into a massive vaccination spot, but the deployment process in our state continues to see new challenges as Arizonans wait for their chance for it. vaccine.

The stadium transformation is part of a plan to quickly expand access to vaccines statewide, but the supply and limited locations don’t make matters easier.

“They tell us, ‘Just go to the website and get it,’ and you go there… it’s a real chore to find something,” said Henry Wall.

Wall is 77 years old, lives in the East Valley and is eligible to receive the vaccine. He spent hours and days searching online for a date, eventually finding one nowhere near his home.

“I ended up having to get to a place in Surprise, which is about 45 miles away,” Wall said.

This is testimony that highlights the need for more vaccine locations. On Thursday, the state announced that Phoenix Municipal Stadium will put one online next month.

Dr Cara Christ spoke about the effort on KTAR 92.3 FM Thursday morning.

“We have created a playbook that can now be recreated on different sites,” said Dr Christ.

She says it won’t be the last state-run POD site, either, with more locations in the works. So far, more than 200,000 people across the state have received the vaccine.

Pharmacies are also poised to play a major role.

“We will be opening 100 pharmacies in the next few weeks that will have doses available,” Dr Christ said. “And we have another 800 ready for use when more vaccines arrive.”

State leaders on Wednesday opened vaccine distribution to people 65 and over – big plans, but supply is currently limited. Many counties like Yuma and Pinal cannot switch to this group until they have more. Maricopa County is in the same boat.

“We won’t be able to open up and expand to other groups until this vaccine is available,” said Dr Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director of Maricopa County Health.

However, state-run sites will serve those 65 and older, opening appointments for that group next Tuesday at 9 a.m. However, the earliest so that anyone in the group can get vaccinated in February.

“We heard that the federal government may release additional doses,” explained Dr. Sunenshine.

Maricopa County said so far they are establishing more distribution sites dedicated to teachers and law enforcement. They also say a Grand Canyon university site is expected to open next week and be ready to do 500 vaccinations a day.

The Phoenix Union 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 Maricopa County public health partnership will run over two days when hundreds of teachers and staff are expected to get vaccinated.

Pods are being installed at:

Carl Hayden Community High School

Central High School

Cesar Chavez High School

Maryvale High School

The two-day event will take place on January 22-23 and a registration link for the event will be sent to all school employees.

But it’s all up to the federal government to keep its promise to flood states with vaccines in the weeks to come. And the clock is ticking.