(Owen Humphreys / PA via AP)
Phoenix
Arizona’s largest county has decided to maintain current requirements because it does not yet have enough vaccine to open to people between the ages of 65 and 74.
“We know that ADHS has announced that they are open to those over 65, however, Maricopa County is dedicated to its current mission to serve those in priority 1A and 1B,” said Maricopa County Medical Director Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine at the press conference.
“Until we can continue this mission, we will not be able to open up and expand to other groups until the vaccine is available.”
On Wednesday, ADHS announced that it will reduce the vaccine cutting age from 75 to 65, which means that about 750,000 Arizonans could become eligible with the change; however, the state later clarified that it is up to each county to adopt these recommendations.
“Keep in mind that not all counties are in Phase 1B of Arizona,” said ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ. KTAR News 92.3 FM is the Mike Broomhead show on Thursday. “And given the limited resources, not every county may be able to prioritize in the same way that the state is, so it’s really county-by-county.”
This extension to Phase 1B was made after federal authorities changed their recommendations for prioritizing photos, while supply is limited.
According to state officials, 85% of Arizonans who died from COVID-19 and more than half who were hospitalized were 65 or older.
Sunenshine said Maricopa County is currently vaccinating about 10,000 people a day on its current distribution sites and is working to add additional sites and pharmacy partners in the coming weeks.
“We are not sure when we will have enough vaccine to include an additional 400,000 people in category 65 and over,” Sunenshine said.
“When we get there, we’ll be ready with additional PODs planned so we can pass that vaccine on to anyone who wants it.”
On state-run sites such as State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal, 65-year-olds can sign up for the vaccine, even if they are in Maricopa County.