Maricopa County will enter phase 1B in its COVID-19 vaccination plan Monday. This phase makes the vaccine available to K-12 school staff and child care workers, law enforcement and adults age 75 and older.
The county began its vaccination efforts in mid-December. As of Thursday, the county had vaccinated more than 65,000 people. Because the vaccines are in limited supply, the earliest vaccines available in the county were prioritized for adults in long-term care facilities or frontline health care workers. The majority of vaccines in the county have been administered at five drive-through points of dispensing, or "PODs."
Maricopa County medical director Dr. Rebecca Sunenshine said in a news conference Wednesday there are many health care workers and others from the 1A group left to vaccinate, so people in the 1B group may still have to wait to get an appointment.
"But it’s really important that while these PODs are open that no appointment time goes unused, and that’s why we’re opening it up to these other groups in 1B," Sunenshine said.
Sunenshine said the county plans to begin opening additional sites next week to reach 1B populations.
“You’ll start to see specialized clinics for school staff and childcare workers. You’ll see pharmacies and federally qualified health care centers who have vaccine to offer for those individuals age 75 and over,” she said.
The county’s pre-screening website for appointments will open to those in the 1B group Monday. Those getting vaccinated will be asked to bring proof of employment or age to their appointment.
