While most states and cities continue to vaccinate higher-priority groups of people, an Arizona county now allows any resident over the age of 18 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Gila County, located east of Phoenix, entered Phase 2 vaccine prioritization late last month, opening up requirements for the general population.
Part of the decision to open vaccine eligibility is due to the fact that Gila County has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccine dose percentages used in Arizona. Michael O’Driscoll, the county’s director of public health and emergency management, told CBS affiliate KPHO-TV that they received state permission last week to offer the vaccine at a drive-thru clinic on last weekend.
“Before that, we were struggling to find enough people to make appointments, so the state gave me permission to offer it to any resident 18 years of age or older,” he said.
About 56,000 people live in the county. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, more than 13,000 people (or nearly a quarter of residents) have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We did a survey earlier to get an idea of how many people in Gila County would consider getting the vaccine, and our survey returned about 50-60% of residents would choose the vaccine if it was available,” O’Driscoll said. .
According to the data, more than 5,600 people under the age of 65 have received the vaccine, including 73 people under the age of 20.
One of the younger recipients, 18-year-old Jacob Jost, told KPHO-TV he was “excited” to receive the shot.
“I have a little nephew, a little baby, so having the vaccine puts you at ease,” Jost said.
KPHO-TV