PHOENIX – On Feb. 1, the COVID-19 test site at Phoenix Municipal Stadium will be transformed into a massive vaccination site, but the deployment process in our state continues to see new challenges as Arizonaers wait your chance for the vaccine.
The transformation of the stadium is part of a plan to quickly expand access to vaccines statewide, but limited supply and locations do not make it easy.
“They tell us,‘ you just have to go to the website and get it ’and go … it’s a real task to find something,” Henry Wall said.
Wall is 77 years old, lives in the East Valley and is fit to receive the vaccine. He spent hours and several days looking for an appointment online, finally getting one close to his home.
“I just had to go somewhere in Surprise, which is about 45 miles away,” Wall said.
It is a testament to the need for more vaccine locations. On Thursday, the state announced that Phoenix Municipal Stadium will put one online next month.
Dr. Cara Christ spoke about the effort on KTAR 92.3 FM on Thursday morning.
“We’ve created a playbook that can now be recreated in different places now,” Dr. Christ.
She says it will also not be the last state-run POD site, with more locations in the works. To date, more than 200,000 people across the state have received the vaccine.
Pharmacies are also about to play an important role.
“We will be coming to 100 pharmacies in the coming weeks that will have doses available,” Dr. Christ said. “And we have 800 others ready to start when more vaccine arrives.”
State leaders on Wednesday opened vaccine distribution to those over 65, big plans, but supply at the moment is limited. Many counties like Yuma and Pinal can’t move into this group until they get more. Maricopa County is on the same boat.
VACCINE UPDATE: Maricopa County does not open vaccines to people over 65 until more vaccines are provided.
Maricopa County will continue to vaccinate priority group 1A and 1B. (which includes more than 75)
– Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) January 14, 2021
“We will not be able to open up and expand into other groups until this vaccine is opened,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, medical director of Maricopa County Health.
However, state-run positions will serve those 65 and older, opening appointments for that group next Tuesday at 9 p.m.
“We’ve heard that the federal government can release additional doses,” Dr. Sunenshine explained.
Maricopa County says more distribution sites dedicated to teachers and law enforcement have been established so far. They also claim the site where Grand Canyon University will open next week and is ready to make 500 vaccines a day.
Phoenix Union High School District also announced Thursday that four campuses will be used to distribute the coronavirus vaccine to district school employees. Officials say the partnership with Maricopa County public health will take place over two days, where hundreds of teachers and staff are expected to get the shot.
The pods are being configured to:
Carl Hayden Community High School
Central Secondary School
Cesar Chávez Institute
Maryvale High School
The two-day event will take place on January 22 and 23 and a registration link will be sent to all school employees.
But all of this is due to the federal government fulfilling its promise to flood states with vaccines in the coming weeks. And the clock passes.