(Owen Humphreys / PA via AP)
PHOENIX – Maricopa County Health officials announced Thursday that the county would not reduce the age of eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine from 75 to 65 at its county-run sites despite new recommendations from the Department of Health Services. Arizona Health.
Arizona’s largest county made the decision to keep the current requirements in place because it still doesn’t have enough vaccine to open it at age 65-74.
“We know ADHS has announced that they will open to those over 65, but Maricopa County is dedicated to its current mission of serving people in Phases 1A and 1B prioritized,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, director Maricopa County Medical. Press conference.
“Until we can move forward on this mission, we will not be able to open up and expand into other groups until this vaccine is opened.”
On Wednesday, ADHS announced it would reduce the vaccine cut-off age from 75 to 65, meaning some 750,000 Arizona residents could be eligible with the change; however, the state later clarified that it was up to each county to adopt these recommendations.
“Keep in mind that not all counties are in Phase 1B in Arizona,” said ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ KTAR News 92.3 FM is the Mike Broomhead program Thursday. “And given the limited resources, it is possible that not all counties can prioritize in the same way as the state, so it’s really every county.”
This expansion to Phase 1B was made after federal authorities changed their recommendations to prioritize firing while supply was limited.
According to state officials, 85% of Arizonans who have died from COVID-19 and more than half who have been hospitalized have been 65 or older.
Sunenshine said Maricopa County is currently vaccinating about 10,000 people a day at its current distribution sites and is working to add additional sites and pharmacy partners in the coming weeks.
“We’re not sure when we’ll have enough vaccine to include the additional 400,000 people in the 65-year-old or older category,” Sunenshine said.
“When we get to this point, we will be prepared with additional PODs planned so we can get this vaccine to anyone who wants it.”
In state-run venues such as State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal, 65-year-olds can enroll in the vaccine even if they are in Maricopa County.