Vaccine appointments at 2 Arizona sites for 55 and up gone in 2 hours

PHOENIX – The first batch of COVID-19 vaccine appointments for residents ages 55 and up at two state-run sites were filled in about two hours Tuesday afternoon, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Online registration for appointments at State Farm Stadium in Glendale and Phoenix Municipal Stadium started at noon, and all 50,000 slots were claimed before 2 p.m., the department said.

#UPDATE: The #COVID19 vaccine appointments released today at 12:00 p.m. on https://t.co/GXgJTzKRDV have been booked. We will provide information about additional appointments as it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/zKddsn9HNv

— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) March 2, 2021

The sites will start giving shots on Thursday.

The lowered age was an extension made Monday from the 65 and older group in the priority 1B phase.

Since vaccine distribution began in December, more than 1.8 million doses have been administered and about 600,000 Arizonans have received both doses, according to ADHS.

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

The website also has an eligibility-checker tool that lets you know if you are cleared to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine.

At this time, people in phase 1A and the priority segment of 1B are eligible at Maricopa County points of dispensing and the state-run sites.

Eligibility can vary by county, so residents outside the Phoenix area should check with their local health departments.

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