Arizona opens up COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults
Mar 22, 2021, 10:40 AM | Updated: 11:22 am
(Arizona Cardinals Photo)
PHOENIX – Everybody in Arizona age 16 and older will be eligible to register for COVID-19 vaccinations at state-run sites starting Wednesday at 8 a.m., officials announced Monday morning.
“Our goal has been and remains to get vaccine into the community as quickly, widely and equitably as possible,” Gov. Doug Ducey said in a press release.
“Given a thorough review of vaccination data, anticipated vaccine supply, and current demand among prioritized groups, now is the time to take this critical next step.”
The change applies to appointments at three state-run mass vaccination sites in Maricopa County (State Farm Stadium, Phoenix Municipal Stadium and Chandler-Gilbert Community College) and one in Pima County (University of Arizona). It will also apply for the state-run site launching Friday in Yuma.
Nearly 60,000 appointments were still available as of Monday morning, according to the release. Each Friday at 11 a.m., the state releases a new batch of appointments for the following week.
The state-run sites administer Pfizer vaccines, which require two doses and have been approved for people ages 16 and older.
The Arizona Department of Health Services dashboard showed that 2,904,159 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, with 1,831,456 people (25.5% of the state’s population) having received at least one shot and 1,136,413 people fully vaccinated.
“We anticipate more and more vaccine reaching Arizona heading into April, making it possible now to expand prioritization,” Arizona Health Director Dr. Cara Christ said in the release.
“We have been flexible and nimble throughout, while expanding the availability of state sites to vaccinate large numbers of people rapidly.”
For details about COVID-19 vaccine availability at other locations in the state, including county-run sites, pharmacies and health clinics, the ADHS website has a vaccine-finder page.