PHOENIX – Adults aged 65 and over will be able to benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine in Maricopa County starting Monday, February 15th.
County health officials announced Thursday that they are expanding eligibility, as nearly 50 percent of people aged 75 and over have now received at least one dose of vaccine.
RELATED: On Thursday, ADHS reported 1,861 new cases of COVID-19 and 200 additional deaths.
On Monday, all vaccination sites in Maricopa County will begin administering doses to those aged 65 and over.
The decision is in line with the federal pharmacy vaccine program scheduled to begin later this week, which will bring the vaccine to 182 pharmacies in Maricopa County.
“The data shows that our decision to give older adults a little extra time to access the vaccine has proven to be successful, and the time is now right to invite our residents 65 and older to step up and vaccinate, ”said Marcy Flanagan, director of Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
The Maricopa County Public Health Department estimates that there are nearly 400,000 adults in the 65-74 age group who will be eligible for the vaccine in Maricopa County.
According to the latest data available from health officials in Maricopa County, nearly 430,000, or 12%, of residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 120,000 Maricopa County residents, about one in four people who received a dose for rent, were completely vaccinated with two doses.
MCDPH makes vaccination schedules when and where they are convenient for people.
Efforts include: setting up five regional drive-through sites in the county, then adding a sixth and more centrally located sites, close to public transport, with a bypass option for those who do not have their own vehicles.