Arizona coronavirus vaccination efforts steadily picking up pace

PHOENIX – After the second full week of coronavirus vaccinations in Arizona, the state has taken strides to better distribute doses to health care workers, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

With over 70 vaccination sites active in the state, more than 80,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines combined have been administered.

“The state and local partners are making solid progress, but there is considerable work ahead,” Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said in a press release Friday.

“We will continue identifying and surmounting challenges because there is too great a cost for every minute that any dose of vaccine isn’t used.”

Rural and tribal communities have started to ramp up vaccination efforts as well.

Additionally, CVS and Walgreens started to vaccinate residents and staff in nursing facilities with 24 locations served to date. That initiative received nearly 40,000 doses from the state’s allocation at the end of December to vaccinate the facilities over the next three weeks, according to the release.

Last week, Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order aimed at speeding up the rate of vaccination and streamlining communication about how eligible Arizonans can access the vaccine.

At the time, Arizona had received around 315,000 doses since distribution began earlier in December.

In most of the state, health care workers, emergency medical service workers and long-term care facility staff and residents are being vaccinated as part of phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan.

Arizona expects to transition into phase 1B, which includes teachers, childcare staff, protective service workers and individuals 75 and older, in most counties by mid to late January. Christ told KTAR News 92.3 FM last week that some counties may start phase 1B sooner.

The increased vaccinations efforts come as coronavirus cases continue to hit record levels in the state.

On Sunday, Arizona health officials reported a single-day record of 17,234 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths, bringing the state’s documented totals to 556,384 infections and 9,061 fatalities.

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