COVID vaccine seekers flock to Arizona website for February appointments

Jan 19, 2021, 7:43 AM | Updated: 10:24 am

(AP Photo)

PHOENIX – A crush of online sign-ups bogged down the Arizona health department’s website Tuesday when it began taking reservations for COVID-19 vaccine appointments in February.

The Arizona Department of Health Services tweeted out around 30 minutes after the month became available at 9 a.m. that people should try scheduling an appointment after Feb. 14.

Next month’s sign-ups are accessible for those 65 and older and others are among those who are eligible for priority appointments at the two Arizona Department of Health Services sites.

Educators, child care workers and law enforcement personnel are also eligible in the prioritized segment of phase 1B.

There is extremely heavy demand for the online scheduling system for #COVID19 appointments at the two state vaccination sites. People are getting appointments. Some people who have say they refreshed regularly. Looking beyond Feb. 14 may be most productive approach right now.

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) January 19, 2021

Shots will be distributed at mass-vaccination sites State Farm Stadium in Glendale and Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Phoenix Muni will launch Feb. 1 and operate during daylight hours only, the health department said.

State Farm Stadium runs 24/7.

The Phoenix baseball stadium will have a limited number of appointments because of the lack of supply, the agency said.

“These mass vaccination sites are a stopgap measure until there is enough vaccine so we can get it to pharmacies and doctors’ offices across the state,” state Health Director Dr. Cara Christ told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News early Tuesday.

“One of the biggest limitations that we actually have is the amount of vaccine that we’re getting from the federal government,” she said.

Christ added as more vaccine becomes available, the two state-run sites would increase the number of appointments.

The new appointments are for eligible people seeking their first dose. Anyone who has already had their first shot will be notified by email to set up their follow-up vaccination.

The Arizona health department has a vaccine-finder page with a statewide map of active and pending locations and links to registration websites.

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