When news came from Maricopa County health officials announcing plans to begin vaccinations for Phase 1B priority individuals, officials outlined how to schedule your appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
However, ABC15 teaches that the appointments will be limited as most of the appointments for Monday are already fulfilled, “we are not just going from 1A-vaccinating health workers to just vaccinating 1B, we are making a slow transition,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine with Maricopa County. “Most of the appointments for Monday are already filled with health workers, so what we tried to do was open up to the priority groups in 1B as soon as possible, because we know that people want to get vaccinated.”
According to the Maricopa County Public Health website, the Maricopa County Phase 1B vaccination schedule will open Jan. 11.
Eligible populations included in Stage 1B are:
- K-12 school staff and daycare workers
- Law enforcement / protective services *
- Adults aged 75 and over
According to their website, those in Stage 1B must have an appointment to get vaccinated and walk-ins are not allowed.
Click here to schedule your appointment on the Maricopa County Health Department prescreening website starting Jan. 11.
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The prescreening website states that priority will be given to those who meet certain requirements and that participants will be notified as of January 7 when the vaccine is available.
County health officials require Phase 1B Priority Individuals to provide the following details on the day of their appointment:
- Appointment confirmation
- An ID confirming your Stage 1B employment, such as a work ID or pay slip, or an ID that indicates your age if you are 75 or older.
The county health website also indicated that people in law enforcement / protection services or working in education should check with their employers before making an appointment with the county prescreening website. Employers may have more information about other vaccine distribution plans based on someone’s job, the website says.
Given the limited availability of vaccines, health officials said their top priority is to ensure that every eligible Maricopa County resident has access to receive their vaccines.
According to their website, adults living in a community environment and other essential workers are given priority for Stage 1B vaccination after the groups listed above.
Maricopa County said in a press conference on Wednesday that those who qualify for 1B will go through a simplified registration process that will be posted on the website for an appointment Monday, and will then need something to prove their age or employment.
Sunenshine said that as the province receives more Moderna vaccines, they will allocate it to primary care providers: “Right now, we want to make sure we get it to providers who can get it to as many people as possible, such as federally qualified health centers and pharmacies.”
Dana Kennedy, Arizona State Director of AARP, says it’s a logistical nightmare for planning vaccines for people over 75.
Kennedy said the county has asked her for help, “we want to make sure this is the top priority and they think about how to get this population sooner rather than later, and make it as convenient and safe as possible.”
AARP plans to help its members reach out with more information through a ROBOcall and post more information on their website for the general public to view and information about the vaccines.
Kennedy said they may have volunteers, and there will be other organizations out there to help seniors who don’t have family or don’t know how to navigate the website.
Maricopa County told us on Thursday that those who qualify for 1B shouldn’t try to register before the website goes live Monday: “Currently, the systems are booking people for the same day, if there are appointments that day, or in advance,” says a spokesman wrote.
Along with attorneys like Kennedy working to get information to people over 75, the county says there will be a phone number.
“Public Health is also working with organizations associated with an estimated 283,000 people over the age of 75 to ensure they receive information at the right time,” said a statement.
ABC15 asked when we can expect more locations than what the province has open to the vaccines.
“As operations increase to support Phase 1B vaccination efforts, we expect more vaccination options outside of POD sites to be available to priority groups soon. This may include vaccinations at pharmacies for those 75 and older and employer-based vaccination events through private sellers. Public Health works closely with state and local partners to facilitate agreements that allow vaccines to be allocated for these types of distribution efforts. More information will be released as it becomes available, ”Maricopa County officials said in an email.
According to the county spokesperson, more appointments will become available when:
- More vaccine doses are available
- Other POD sites are completing their second dose appointments, so additional appointments can be opened for Phase 1B individuals