On December 15, 2020, AHCCCS notified us regarding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout (Phase 1A). We wanted to share this important information with our provider network.
The Arizona Department of Health Services announced this week that COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available for Phase 1A priority populations in Arizona, including health care personnel and EMS providers on the front lines and vulnerable long-term care staff and residents.
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On December 11, 2020, the FDA announced that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received emergency use authorization (EUA) for ages 16 years and older.
- CDC has confirmed that a limited number of Pfizer vaccines (~58,000 first doses) will begin shipping and arriving at prepositioning sites in Tucson and Phoenix between December 14-16.
- A FDA EUA for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is expected to follow this week, with ~189,000 additional vaccine doses scheduled to ship to all Arizona counties the week of December 20.
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Arizona’s updated COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and VAPAC recommendations will be available at www.azhealth.gov/covid19vaccine.
While vaccine supplies are limited initially, each county health department will be responsible for implementing vaccination plans within their jurisdiction. In the next week, vaccine information will be available to share from local public health partners to let priority populations know how to determine if they are eligible for Phase 1A and where they can go to receive vaccination.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination, please visit the following sites which include information and resources on vaccine safety, how to complete pre-screening and sign up for an appointment when vaccine is available:
As vaccine supplies become available over the next week, additional information about statewide vaccine availability in all Arizona counties will be added to www.azhealth.gov/covid19vaccine.
AHCCCS, along with Mercy Care, wants to send a thank you to the scientists, health care and government leaders for their tireless efforts to deliver a safe and effective vaccine to the front lines. We appreciate the ongoing efforts of local and tribal health care partners to ensure that vaccines are administered to front line responders, including the most vulnerable Arizonans that are the highest risk for COVID-19. It is important to note that while the historic announcement of COVID-19 vaccine symbolizes a light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic, public health recommendations to limit disease spread will continue to be crucial until there is demonstrated herd immunity to protect high-risk individuals in our communities.
We appreciate your continued assistance, support and cooperation as we jointly work through this COVID-19 pandemic! Thanks for all you do.
