Arizona needs to vaccinate teens quickly. What s the best way to do it? Joanna Allhands, Arizona Republic
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What’s the quickest, easiest, most efficient way to vaccinate Arizona teens now that roughly 400,000 become eligible for a Pfizer dose?
Is it to keep open the state’s mass vaccination sites, which have administered the bulk of Arizona’s Pfizer supply? Or to shut them down and expedite doses to pharmacies, doctor’s offices, clinics, urgent cares and mobile vaccination units across the state?
The FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for use in 12- to 15-year-olds, meaning they could be available as soon as May 13. There are more than 380,000 Arizonans in this age group, according to census figures, and the state health department expects that perhaps half of them will clamor to get a shot once it’s authorized.
COVID cases remain on a plateau across Arizona.
For the week ending May 2, cases dropped for the first time since the week ending March 21, with 4,946 people testing positive, according to Dr. Joe Gerald, an epidemiologist and professor in the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health who has been tracking the virus for more than a year.
That means an estimated 68 Arizonans per 100,000 residents are testing positive. The state hit a low of 38 cases per 100,000 people on Sept. 8, 2020, between the summer and winter waves, and a low of 54 cases per 100,000 people on March 23 following the winter wave, with cases rising since then.
Advertisement: The operation includes two mobile vaccination units, which are able to administer 250 vaccines per day each, according to a county press release. The units will run through June 26, operating at two concurrent locations for three days, with one day to tear down and move to the next location. The locations were selected based on census tract data and the Social Vulnerability Index of the area to identify highly vulnerable communities. The sites will offer walk-up vaccinations of both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those 18 and older on a first-come, first-served basis. Patients will return to the same mobile site 28 days after their first visit to receive their second dose, following CDC guidance. Help will be available to all who need assistance with mobility, language or other accommodations.
Arizona sites ready to begin vaccinating children ages 12 to 15 beginning May 13 fox10phoenix.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fox10phoenix.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Kids ages 12 to 15 are eligible for COVID vaccine in Arizona
ADHS says they can receive the vaccine starting Thursday, May 13
PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona vaccination sites are ready to begin vaccinating children 12 to 15 years old.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) said sites in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff will start vaccinating 12 to 15 years old on Thursday, May 13, following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free ‒ and they’re our best shot to end this pandemic and return to the things we’ve missed. We’re moving quickly to empower parents and guardians to get this protection for their children,” Governor Doug Ducey said. “Millions of Arizonans have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. Soon, kids ages 12 to 15 years old will now be eligible to get vaccinated, and state vaccine sites are ready to serve them.”