KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

After Rough Start, Maricopa County Steps Up COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Maricopa County hopes to vaccinate more than 50,000 front line health care workers for coronavirus by the end of this week.

The rate of vaccination is likely to speed up as time goes on.

After a rocky start, the county’s stations are operating at full capacity. The vaccination is given on a drive-through basis — from the shot to a short waiting period.

Marcy Flanagan, executive director of Maricopa County Public Health, addressed members of the media at an East Valley site Wednesday as several lines of cars inched forward. Flanagan says the county had a number of bugs to work out at first.

"All of those have been worked out and fixed. And so, last week I think was a bit more frustrating for some individuals trying to go through the process. This week has been a lot smoother," she said. 

Flanagan said that one of the biggest problems at this point is getting more of the vaccine, which is still not widely available.

→  Get The Latest News On COVID-19 In Arizona 

Ron Dungan was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2020 to 2024.