Gov. Ducey says Biden’s May 1 vaccine eligibility goal is attainable in Arizona
Mar 12, 2021, 9:14 AM | Updated: 1:49 pm
(Twitter Photo/@dougducey)
(Twitter Photo/@dougducey)
PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Friday the state can meet President Joe Biden’s goal of extending COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1 — on one condition.
“If we have the supply, we certainly have the infrastructure,” Ducey told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday morning.
Ducey noted that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took a virtual tour of the state-run mass vaccination site at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium last month.
“They did say it was a model, and other states have been standing that up,” Ducey said. “So get us the supply, we’ll get the vaccines out there.”
More than 20% of Arizona’s population has already received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Currently, Arizonans 55 and older are eligible along with workers in certain occupations.
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Arizona’s Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Advisory Committee released projections on March 1 about when the age cutoff would be lowered. The move to the final group would be accelerated by nine days if the state meets Biden’s goal.
VAPAC projected that the cutoff would drop to 45 by March 29, 35 on April 19 and anybody 16 and over by May 10. Ducey said Friday the drop to 45 would occur April 1.
Biden announced his May 1 target while addressing the nation on Thursday night.
The U.S. is expecting to have enough doses for all 255 million adults by the end of that month, but Biden warned the process of actually administering those doses would take time.
“Let me be clear, that doesn’t mean everyone’s going to have that shot immediately, but it means you’ll be able to get in line beginning May 1,” he said.
The president also predicted Americans could safely gather at least in small groups for the July Fourth holiday.
Ducey was even more optimistic.
“I think that was an under-promise on the Fourth of July,” the governor said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
