HonorHealth ramping up for virus vaccine distribution in Arizona
Dec 8, 2020, 2:00 PM
Caroline Maloney stands outside HonorHealth's Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center at the end of her overnight shift early Friday, June 26, 2020 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Arizona nurses and doctors find themselves on the frontline as the coronavirus rips through the state, making it one of the world's hot spots. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX – With the initial shipments of the coronavirus vaccine expected to arrive in Arizona next week, HonorHealth is gearing up to distribute doses to those who are first in line.
The hospital network continues to conduct test runs to ensure that the process runs smoothly at the Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, which is one of five sites in Maricopa County that have been designated as a vaccination site.
“I think the team was really pleased with how much we were able to accomplish, and I think we’re getting closer and closer to being able to pull off the real thing every time we practice,” HonorHealth Network Senior Director Lyndsey Cunningham told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Tuesday.
Cunningham said HonorHealth will conduct vaccinations by appointment only, which will be booked through an app. That platform will also give them the capability to easily alert patients when they are due for the second dose and give them the ability to report any reactions they may have.
“It is really, really slick process, and it is really going help us make sure that folks do get in for that second dose,” Cunningham said.
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She noted the whole vaccination process is expected to take less than 30 minutes. The majority of the appointment will be observing people after they have received the vaccine to make sure there are no adverse reactions, which is the same procedure for any vaccination.
HonorHealth will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Maricopa County Department of Public Health to ensure those in the top tier, like health care workers, are the first to receive the vaccination.
Cunningham said vaccinating health care workers will help the system preserve its workforce as well.
As of now, the network is unsure of how many doses it will receive from the first shipment but is expected to receive additional information later this week from state and county health leaders.
