President Joe Biden is looking to Arizona as a national model for mass vaccination. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris tuned in for a virtual tour of Arizona’s vaccination site at State Farm Stadium on Monday. The state has been administering as many as 8,000 shots a day at the stadium since mid-January.
Arizona’s health department director, Dr. Cara Christ, and others involved with the site's operation, spoke with the president about the logistics of setting up a 24-hour-a-day, drive-through vaccine clinic.
“I got a call during the Super Bowl from the commissioner of football offering the federal government the 30 major stadiums, so I think they’re going to be coming to you to look at how you did it because you’re doing such a great job,” Biden told Christ during the video call.
The Biden administration is offering support through FEMA for state health departments to plan vaccination distribution. Biden said he’s optimistic his administration can exceed its goal of 100 million shots given in 100 days.
"With the grace of God, the goodwill of neighbors and people like you, we’re going to end up doing more than that," Biden said. "Thank you for what you're doing. You're saving people's lives."
Appointments at the State Farm Stadium vaccination site are fully booked through February. The state says it could increase capacity if it could secure more doses of the vaccine.
→ Q&AZ: What You Need To Know About Getting The Coronavirus Vaccine In Arizona
