(KTAR News Photo / Peter Samore)
PHOENIX – Arizona government Doug Ducey pleaded with Arizonans on Wednesday to get the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available to them.
“Public health experts cannot stress the importance of this enough, I cannot stress its importance enough,” Ducey said at a news conference. “We need Arizonans to get up and get the vaccine if we want to stop the spread of this virus.”
At a press conference at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, which will be a vaccination distribution site, Ducey reiterated that the fight against the coronavirus pandemic is “far from over” and called the coronavirus vaccine a “light at the end of the tunnel.”
He also urged Arizonans to continue to pay attention to public health by wearing a mask, social distancing and limiting gatherings.
Public health guidelines mandate that health professionals and residents of long-term care facilities be among the first to receive the vaccine. Each vaccination requires two doses, several weeks apart.
The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine arrived in the state on Monday, and vaccinations began on Tuesday. A World War II veteran and Phoenix VA health workers were among the first to receive the vaccine.
Arizona is expected to receive more than 383,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year, but it will likely be months before Arizonans who have no essential jobs or are at high risk for complications if they get the virus can be vaccinated.
Ducey said he would get the coronavirus vaccine when it comes his turn.
During the press conference, Ducey also announced that he would allocate $ 15 million and spend additional to the Arizona Department of Health Services to supplement the emergency public health fund.
The advent of the first coronavirus vaccines is as infections and hospitalizations continue to increase in the state.
On Wednesday, state health officials reported 4,848 new coronavirus cases and 108 additional deaths, bringing the documented totals to 429,219 COVID-19 infections and 7,530 fatalities.
Statewide, 45% of all hospital beds and 51% of all IC beds were filled with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients Tuesday, numbers that have been steadily rising for about two months. The percentage of beds included was in line with the July 13 pandemic peak.