Adults 65 and older will soon have more access to COVID-19 vaccines in Maricopa County. The county is expanding age eligibility at its sites starting Monday.
→ Q&AZ: What You Need To Know About Getting The Coronavirus Vaccine In Arizona
The state-run mass vaccination sites at State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal Stadium have been offering vaccines to adults 65 and older for a few weeks. But Maricopa County had more eligibility restrictions at its vaccine sites. On Monday that will change. Anyone 65 and up will be able to get a shot at the county’s POD sites or dozens of Valley pharmacy locations.
The county says adults in that age group can start booking those appointments now. Vaccine locations have different booking websites, but most vaccinators in the state are listed at azdhs.gov/findvaccine. Demand for appointments has been extremely high and appointment slots are likely to remain limited for many weeks.
Due to limited vaccine supply, the county's age limit for vaccine access was previously 75. But Maricopa County Public Health says about 44% of the county's 75-and-older population has now had at least one shot.
“The data shows that our decision to provide older adults a little extra time to access vaccine has proven successful and the timing is now right to invite our residents 65 and older to step up and get vaccinated,” Marcy Flanagan, director of Maricopa County Public Health, said in a press release.
Maricopa County Public Health estimates about 400,000 people in the county are between the ages of 65 and 74.
