(Owen Humphreys / PA via AP)
PHOENIX – Maricopa County health officials announced Thursday that the county would not lower the age of eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine at county-administered sites from 75 to 65, despite new recommendations from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arizona’s largest county has made the decision to enforce current requirements because it doesn’t yet have enough vaccine to open it up to people aged 65-74.
“We know ADHS has announced that they are opening up to people 65 and older, but Maricopa County is committed to its current mission of serving those in Phase 1A and Priority 1B,” said Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine, Maricopa County Medical Director. press conference.
“Until we can move forward in that mission, we won’t be able to open up and expand into other groups until that vaccine becomes available.”
On Wednesday, ADHS announced that it would lower the vaccine withdrawal age from 75 to 65, meaning about 750,000 Arizonans could be eligible with the change; later, however, the state clarified that it was up to each province to adopt those recommendations.
“Keep in mind that not every county is in Phase 1B in 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 province can set the same priorities as the state, so it’s really per province.”
That expansion to Phase 1B came after federal authorities changed their recommendations to prioritize shots while supply is limited.
According to government officials, 85% of Arizonans who have died from COVID-19 and more than half who are hospitalized are 65 or older.
Sunenshine said Maricopa County is currently vaccinating about 10,000 people a day at 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 the additional 400,000 people in the 65 and older category,” Sunenshine said.
“When we’re ready, we’ll be done with additional PODs planned so we can give that vaccine to anyone who wants it.”
State-run sites such as State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal can sign up for the vaccine for people over 65, even though they are in Maricopa County.