4th Arizona-run mass COVID-19 vaccine site opens in Chandler

PHOENIX – Arizona’s fourth state-run mass COVID-19 vaccination site, the first in the East Valley, opened Wednesday in Chandler.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College joined State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Phoenix Municipal Stadium and the University of Arizona in Tucson on the Arizona Department of Health Services’ point of dispensing list.

Appointments for the Chandler location were filled about 90 minutes after they were made available Monday morning.

“These vaccines are the light at the end of the tunnel,” State Health Director Dr. Cara Christ said at the Chandler opening.

The East Valley site near Loop 202 and Gilbert Road will give shots from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the time being. When the state’s vaccine supply increases, health services planned to operate there 24 hours a day. Once it is running all day the site will be to handle 6,000 people per day, Christ said.

The campus had previously been part of Maricopa County’s vaccination efforts and managed by Dignity Health.

“This site already has a proven record of success, but the partnership will allow for expanded capacity and hours of operation when the vaccine supply can support it,” Christ said.

State Farm Stadium, which opened Jan. 11, remains the only 24/7 site. Phoenix Muni, which opened Feb. 1, and UArizona, which launched Feb. 18 after a stint as campus-only, each run during the day.

As of Wednesday, 1.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given to 1.2 million Arizonans, Christ said. More than 645,000 have received both doses.

The state-run sites were all booked as of Wednesday morning, but more appointments will be added when more vaccine becomes available.

The state lowered the age cutoff for its sites to 55 this week. Eligibility at sites run by local health departments varies by county.

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

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