Arizona universities announce COVID-19 vaccination sites starting next week
ABC15
and last updated 2021-01-11 16:56:49-05
Universities across Arizona are helping their communities to get vaccinated as they announce COVID-19 vaccination POD sites available starting next week.
Grand Canyon University announced Monday that, in partnership with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, it is setting up a walk-through service Point of Dispensing (POD) location for the community.
The POD location will be set up at 27th Avenue and Camelback Road, serving as one of the seven POD sites available throughout the Valley.
Officials said GCU s POD site will be unique as it will provide walk-through services for those who do not have a vehicle and need public transportation or a shuttle to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
Grand Canyon University and the University of Arizona are gearing up to open as COVID-19 vaccination sites for Maricopa and Pima counties, they announced Monday.
The GCU announcement comes as Maricopa County entered Phase 1B of the vaccination process. This means that educators, law enforcement and those 75 and older are now eligible to sign up for the vaccine. The new GCU site, which will open next week, will include walk-through service by appointment for individuals who lack a vehicle and need public transportation or a shuttle in order to get vaccinated, the university said in a Monday press release.
“We are excited to have GCU join the list of sites we have available,” said Marcy Flanagan, executive director for Maricopa County Department of Public Health. “The location and approach they can put into place make it more accessible to people who are eligible in Phase 1B and might also be in groups that are more at-risk during this pandemic.”
Only three of Arizona s 15 counties have entered into Phase 1B vaccinations as of Tuesday. Author: Josh Sanders (KPNX) Updated: 7:04 PM MST January 5, 2021
PHOENIX Arizona Department of Public Health officials say 101,030 COVID-19 vaccines entered the arms of Phase 1A health care workers across the state.
It s been three weeks since those initial doses.
ADHS says the state has received 314,750 doses in total and expects another 140,000 this week, with 60,000 of those being second doses.
But only three counties in the state are prepared to enter Phase 1B vaccinations: Pinal County, Gila County, and according to a tweet from Gov. Doug Ducey, Santa Fe County are ready to vaccinate teachers, childcare staff, protective service workers, and people 75 and older.
A New Year begins with school districts struggling with a divisive question: to close classrooms or not to close?
Arizonaâs COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population soared to 121, highest in the country, according to CDC data released Monday, Jan. 4.
As of Dec. 31, Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear and Tolleson were all above 700 cases per 100,000 in the last seven days, with Litchfield Park over 600 new cases per 100,000 in the last seven days.
While previous guidance from public health officials was to close classrooms and have online teaching, officials are now urging districts to teach students in classrooms.
The guidance is somewhat conflicting.
For public schools in the West Valley, the Maricopa County school metrics shows an overall risk level of âsubstantialâ and ârecommended learning scenario is: virtual with onsite support.â
Many public school classrooms in Glendale will be closed to start 2021, as most districts are in online-only mode after a post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID-19 cases in communities.
But Peoria Unified School District classrooms at Glendale and Peoria high schools and elementary schools will be open Jan. 4.
The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board voted to keep classrooms open after winter break âregardless of benchmark data.â
Guidance from the county indicates PUSD, with two consecutive weeks of âsubstantialâ data as of Dec. 24, has a recommended learning scenario of âvirtual with onsite support.â
Maricopa County spokesman Ron Coleman noted the guidelines are flexible.