Arizona adding more staff to state-run vaccine sites to decrease wait times

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Wednesday more paid staff is being added to state-run COVID-19 vaccine sites to decrease wait times that have increased recently.

The most significant wait time increase has occurred at the 24/7 State Farm Stadium vaccine site, with some waiting hours for the shot. That wait time was back under 30 minutes on Wednesday, Ducey said.

“Arizona is deploying all available resources to ensure that Arizonans continue to experience short wait times and receive excellent service while getting vaccinated,” Ducey said in a press release. “The State Farm Stadium site is among the highest-performing mass vaccination sites in the U.S. This past weekend alone, we administered more than 10,000 doses per day. We’re committed to keeping up the pace.”

An additional 30 paid staff is being added per shift, according to the release, along with a move to a paid model for a majority of the staff.

Nearly 90 additional National Guard personnel will also be deployed starting Thursday, adding to the total of more than 900 that are already helping the vaccination effort in the state.

Volunteer shifts are also being reduced from eight hours to six when the new overnight hours of operation begin at State Farm Stadium on Sunday at 5 p.m., and more slots for volunteers will be opened. Those who volunteer typically have the opportunity to receive a vaccine following their shift.

“Arizona’s vaccine sites are busy 24/7 and we are excited to see the strong demand for the COVID-19 vaccine,” Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said in the release. “These additional staffing resources will help ensure we provide everyone visiting our sites fast and friendly service.

“Thank you to all the volunteers, health care professionals, National Guard personnel and staff who are making this mission to vaccinate all Arizonans possible.”

Other changes include state-run sites no longer accepting patients arriving more than two hours prior to their scheduled appointments and improving traffic control in and around the state vaccine sites.

More than 2.1 million people have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose as of Wednesday, representing 29.5% of the state’s population, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ dashboard.

Just over 604,500 people have received at least one COVID-19 shot at one of the five state-run sites.

State-wide, 1.3 million people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility has been extended to all adults at state-run sites and other points of dispensing in Maricopa County, with the age cutoff set at 16 for the Pfizer shot and 18 for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson versions.

For details about statewide vaccine availability, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page with a map of locations and information about registration and eligibility.

For information about metro Phoenix vaccine availability, Maricopa County Public Health has an interactive map that lists pharmacies, government-run sites, health clinics and pop-up distribution events.

Related

Election stunner? Teri Ann Hourihan leading Hugh Lytle in No Labels Party governor racePhoenix temps could climb to 115 as extreme heat warning takes effect, NWS saysJay Feely and potential CD-1 opponent Amish Shah have history with the New York JetsIncumbents getting swept in Gilbert Town Council electionWarren Petersen called as winner in GOP primary for Arizona attorney generalASU professor wins United Nations award for using NASA satellites to map groundwater