Vaccine Scheduling now Open to Phase 1B Priority Groups Though availability is limited, scheduling is now open to EMS, healthcare workers and to prioritized groups in Phase 1b, which include adults 75 and older, K-12 teachers and staff, childcare workers, and law enforcement/protective services workers. For links to registration and important information about scheduling, please see the Phase 1B page. If you're a healthcare worker, go to Phase 1A.
ARE YOU NEEDING A 2ND DOSE APPOINTMENT? If you were vaccinated as part of Phase 1A or 1B at a Maricopa County regional POD site (not State Farm Stadium) and need to schedule your second dose but have not yet been contacted, please fill out this form. We are actively working with partners to expand 2nd dose vaccination opportunities as more vaccine becomes available. Note: If you were vaccinated at State Farm Stadium, see AZDHS website for their notification process regarding second dose appointments.
How Will Vaccine Be Prioritized? Deciding who gets the COVID-19 vaccine when its in limited supply is a data-driven process with many considerations to ensure fairness and equity across diverse populations. See the Arizona Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Advisory Committee vaccine prioritization recommendations.
The FDA granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 11 and for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 18. LearnWhat is an EUA? Find FDA fact sheets for both vaccines here.
Safety is a top priority in delivering a vaccine. TheU.S. has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history. Read why.
This dashboard is updated daily around 9 a.m. Dashboard last updated: Jan. 24, 2021
As part of its continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Health is working diligently to prepare for the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines in Maricopa County once they become available.
In coordination with the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 Vaccination Plan PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF , our planning efforts include involvement from hospital and healthcare systems, emergency response agencies, community-based organizations, and others. The role of different partners in vaccine distribution will depend on vaccine supply and the stage of the vaccine distribution plan. As more information becomes available about COVID-19 vaccine, this page will be updated.
CDC guidance in the COVID-19 Vaccine Interim Playbook PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF describes a phased approach to distribution. Because there is likely to be limited supply when vaccine first becomes available, CDC will direct what groups are prioritized based on their risk levels. The first phase of vaccine distribution will include healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents, with more details to come from CDC once a vaccine has been approved for distribution.
When Can You Get Vaccinated?
COVID-19 vaccine will be rolled out in five stages across the U.S.: Phase 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, and 3. At the top of this page, we will keep an updated timeline of which phase Maricopa County is currently in.
Right Now: Phase 1A and Phase 1B Prioritized
People eligible for vaccine in Phase 1A are healthcare workers (those at highest risk and exposure will be prioritized higher than those with lower risk and exposure) and staff and residents of long-term care facilities.
Due to initial limitations in vaccine availability, vaccine distribution for Phase 1B in Maricopa County will begin Jan. 11th with three prioritized groups:
K-12 teachers and staff
Childcare workers
Law enforcement/protective service workers
People age 75 and older
Note: On January 13, 2021, the Arizona Department of Health Servicesannouncedit was following updated federal guidance to expand Phase 1B priority to include ages 65-74 and would offer vaccination to them atstate operated Point of Dispensing sites. Maricopa County does not yet have the supply of vaccine needed to vaccinate the estimated 400,000 people living in Maricopa County in this age group in addition to meeting the large vaccine demand for existing prioritized 1A and 1B groups. Once we get further along in this current phase, and vaccine supply increases, we will be able to expand our vaccination efforts to include those ages 65-74 and others remaining in 1B.
Scheduling for Phase 1B appointments at POD sites in Maricopa County is now open. For more information about this process, see our Phase 1B page.
How Vaccine Will Be Distributed
At each new phase, the distribution methods will change depending on the most effective ways of vaccinating those groups and the vaccine supply at that point. Public Health is actively working with state and local partners to facilitate agreements that will allow vaccine to be allocated for additional distribution outside of POD operations, such as pharmacies and other providers. This will help increase access to vaccine among prioritized populations.
The exact timeline of vaccine distribution among Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 populations will depend on factors such as how many vaccines have been approved, how many doses have been manufactured and allocated to Maricopa County, how many individuals decide to get vaccinated, and other logistical factors. As more vaccine is available to more groups of people, more locations will open to provide vaccine. Eventually, we will reach a point where COVID-19 vaccine is available through doctors’ offices, pharmacies, clinics, outpatient providers, and other healthcare facilities, similar to how widely available the flu shot is.
Temporary Residents
For people who are in Maricopa County temporarily (such as winter visitors or temporary residents), you will be able to get vaccinated in Maricopa County when it is your turn. You will receive a vaccination record with the date of your vaccination and which vaccine you received so you can get the right vaccine at the right time for your second dose, even if you return to your primary residence between doses.
Safety is a top priority in delivering a COVID-19 vaccine. Once a company develops a vaccine, it must go through a rigorous scientific testing process before it can be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA independently reviews the information from these tests to make sure the vaccine is safe and works well, and then decides whether the vaccine can be licensed and made available to the public.
According to clinical trial data reviewed by the FDA, the most commonly reported side effects, which typically last several days, are pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Of note, more people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose, so it is important for vaccination providers and recipients to expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose.
Please see the vaccine safety sheets below for important information about vaccines currently approved for emergency use by the FDA. You will receive information about what vaccine you've received when you're vaccinated so that you can schedule your second dose from the same manufacturer 3 to 4 weeks after your first dose. Vaccines are not interchangeable.
After a vaccine is authorized for use, multiple safety monitoring systems are in place to watch for possible adverse events. If an unexpected serious adverse event is detected, experts work as quickly as possible to determine whether it is a true safety concern.
After you receive your first dose of vaccine, you will receive a paper vaccination record that shows which vaccine you received (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) and when so you are able to track which vaccine you need for your second dose and when to return for it. COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable. That means you will need to get the same manufacturer for the second dose you received for your first dose. If you go to a different provider than your first dose, be sure to check ahead to make sure they offer the manufacturer you need.
When you register, you will be asked a few questions to determine your eligibility, such as your job category or date of birth. Groups currently eligible for scheduling at Maricopa County operated POD sites are:
Remaining EMS and healthcare workers from Phase 1A
Adults age 75 and older
K-12 teachers and staff
Childcare providers
Law enforcement and protective services workers (includes sworn officers and government-employed security officers)
If you are not in one of these groups, we ask that you wait until it is your turn to schedule an appointment.
At your appointment, please be prepared to show 1) your appointment confirmation email, and 2) a form of ID confirming your Phase 1B employment, such as a work ID or paystub, or an ID that shows your age if you are 75+.
You will be able to sign up for an appointment using an online registration system. You may be asked to register on the site or create an account login and password so that you can access the site appointment system. Technical support will be available for those having difficulties with scheduling.
Here are a few practical tips to help you prepare for using the online registration system:
Have an email address to use to create a login for registration that is not a work email address and does not end in .edu, or .gov. Some users have had issues with emails ending in these extensions.
Use Chrome/Firefox/Safari browsers on computer/laptop/iPad/iPhone. Android devices are not currently supported but will be coming soon.
While the vaccine is free to everyone, if you have insurance, please have your insurance information handy. The site may ask you for it so that the POD provider can charge insurance an administration fee, but you will not receive a bill.
Some Maricopa County operated Point of Dispensing (POD) sites will be open and taking appointments into February, with some regional PODs scaling down sooner. The Arizona Department of Health Services, in partnership with other agencies, operates POD sites at State Farm Stadium and the Phoenix Municipal Stadium. These sites are not affiliated with MCDPH and are operated by the state.
Additional opportunities for vaccination outside of POD locations, such as through pharmacies or employer-based vaccination clinics are also in development in Maricopa County.
For people who are in Maricopa County temporarily (such as winter visitors or temporary residents), you are able to get vaccinated if you meet the prioritization criteria for Phase 1B either through your employment status or as an adult age 75 or older. You will receive a vaccination record with the date of your vaccination and which vaccine you received so you can get the right vaccine at the right time for your second dose, even if you return to your primary residence between doses.
The ADHS Vaccine Registration system supports COVID-19 vaccine scheduling events statewide. Here are some general troubleshooting tips that may help you schedule your appointment.
Manually select a date in the future. The site defaults to today’s date so you may not see all availability.
If an appointment is not appearing for the date you wanted, that may indicate that there are no appointments and that date is booked. Please select another date and hit “search”
After securing your appointment date, time and location, please scroll to the bottom of the webpage to confirm and book your appointment. Selecting a “slot” is NOT the same as completing the appointment. You must complete the “submit” step to confirm your appointment.
Before leaving the website, check your email for the appointment confirmation code.
If your appointment is booked successfully, you will receive an email confirming your appointment, with a QR (scan) codeyou will take with you to your appointment. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your appointment was not completed and cannot be confirmed. You will not be able to get vaccinated without it.
If you continue to have issues with using the appointment system, please call ADHS Tech Support: 602-542-1000 or email podvaccine-triage@azdhs.gov.
If you are having technical difficulty creating login/password or other issue using the ADHS Vaccine Registration/Scheduling system, please call 602-542-1000 M-F 8a.m.-5p.m. or email podvaccine-triage@azdhs.gov.
If you do not have access to a computer and need help setting an appointment by phone, ADHS has established a call center to assist. Call 1-844-542-8201 and press Option #8 to be connected to a navigator. This service is Mon.-Fri. from 8.a.m-5p.m.
If you have questions about Phase 1A or Phase 1B in Maricopa County or specific scheduling questions related to Maricopa County operated regional POD sites, please fill out this contact form and a staff member will be in touch. (Note: State Farm and Phoenix Municipal Stadium POD sites are operated by ADHS. Questions about these sites should be directed to ADHS support numbers listed above.)
Scheduling appointments helps us ensure we prepare the right number of doses so they are not wasted, helps you plan your time, and keeps the number of people coming to the site at one time manageable so that you do not have long wait times.
In Maricopa County, the first appointments for Phase 1B prioritized individuals (adults 75 and older, K-12 teachers and staff, childcare workers, and law enforcement/protective services workers) will be available at Maricopa County Point of Dispensing (POD) sites that are not already fully-booked for second doses to prioritized healthcare workers already scheduled from Phase 1A. More appointments will become available POD sites complete their second-dose appointments and as more doses of vaccine are available.
As operations are ramped up to support Phase 1B vaccination efforts, we anticipate more options for vaccination outside of Maricopa County POD sites will be available to prioritized groups. This will include vaccinations at pharmacies for those age 75 and older and employer-based vaccination events. Public Health is working closely with state and local partners to facilitate agreements that will allow vaccine to be allocated for these types of distribution efforts.
Eligibility criteria and appointment availability for vaccine offered at State Farm and Phoenix Municipal Stadium POD sites are set by the Arizona Department of Health Services. These PODs are not operated by Maricopa County. For more information on these state vaccine PODs, please go to the ADHS Vaccine Finder page.
Individuals who are 75 years old and older can schedule vaccination at a select number of pharmacies. Appointment availability will be limited to what pharmacies have allocated and is only for those 75 years of age and older. As more vaccine becomes available, additional locations and appointments will be added.
Maricopa County is working with local pharmacies to increase access to COVID-19 vaccination for one of our highest risk populations, those age 75 and older, who are most likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. This partnership adds to existing federal efforts to utilize pharmacies to provide on-site clinics to vaccinate residents and staff at long-term care facilities. As more pharmacy sites are added to provide vaccine and more doses become available, we will be able to expand to other prioritized populations, including those 65 and older.
We are working with school districts across the county to hold events specifically for school staff and childcare workers in the near future. This will help you be able to have specific days and times near you where you can get vaccinated along with others in this category. More information will be posted on the Phase 1B page as it becomes available.
MCDPH is working to allocate vaccine to universities, community colleges and other higher education entities to vaccinate eligible faculty/staff within their institutions.
Because there is not enough vaccine available for us to allocate for all faculty/staff at this time, we are asking that the vaccine be prioritized within your institution for:
Staff 75 years of age and older
Law enforcement/protective services staff
Childcare staff
Teachers and staff who work in your K-12 institutions
Individuals who are working your Point-of-Dispensing operations where you are administering vaccine
If you are a university, community college or higher education entity that has the ability to vaccinate your eligible faculty/staff, you can request vaccine through this form.
As more vaccine becomes available, you will be able to expand vaccination efforts on your campus. We ask eligible staff/faculty at these institutions to check with your employers first about vaccination events that may be planned. If you are unable to receive a vaccine through your institution, you can locate a vaccine event using the ADHS Vaccine Finder at azhealth.gov/findvaccine.
If you are in this category, please first check with your employer before making an appointment at of our public vaccination clinics. Maricopa County is working with multiple jurisdictions to offer special vaccination events to law enforcement and protective services workers, so your employer may have more information on other vaccine distribution plans for you based on your employment.
We are currently scheduling second dose appointments at our sites as openings occur and vaccine supply is available. As new appointments become available, you will be notified about how and where to go to schedule your second-dose appointment. In many cases, you will be directed to schedule through the state AZDHS registration system. Notifications for appointment invites will be prioritized by the date when the first dose was received.
While it is recommended you have your second dose where you received your first, we know that may be difficult if appointments are limited or not available at these sites. Maricopa County is working with our health system partners, retail pharmacies and other vaccinators to establish vaccination events and access points to provide second doses to individuals who cannot get their second dose at PODs. Most important is that you schedule your second dose at a location that provides the same manufacturer of vaccine as your first dose [All of the county regional PODs and 24/7 ADHS State Farm POD use Pfizer vaccine]. At your first dose appointment, you should receive a vaccine card that tells you the kind of vaccine you received and the date it was administered. Depending on the type of vaccine, you'll need a second dose 21 days (Pfizer) to 28 days (Moderna) later. Your second dose must be of the same vaccine.
To ensure you will get notified as new appointments for second doses become available at our county PODs or additional opportunities, you can fill out this this short survey letting us know you still need a second dose. We will make sure you are contacted so you know how and where to go to schedule your appointment.
If you were vaccinated at State Farm Stadium, you will need to visit the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) website regarding State Farm Stadium POD second doses. This is a state-operated vaccination site and all scheduling runs through ADHS.
To achieve maximum protective benefit as soon as possible, it is recommended you get your second dose of vaccine 21 days (Pfizer) to 28 days (Moderna) after your first dose. However, because of vaccine supply and demand for first dose appointments, we know this may not always be possible. According to ACIP/CDC recommendations, we know that you can get your second dose as late as 42 days after the first dose with no impact on the protective benefit you’ll receive. If you get it later than 42 days after the first dose, it is likely to still be effective, although there has not been enough time to study that yet. CDC does not recommend starting over with vaccination. Getting the second dose is important to getting the full protective benefits of the vaccine, so schedule it as soon as you are able.
Maricopa County is working with our health system partners, retail pharmacies and other vaccinators to establish vaccination events and access points to provide second doses to individuals who cannot get their second dose at PODs.
Vaccine Prioritization
Eventually, everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one. However, when the vaccine is first available there will be limited supply.
Yes. Individuals will be taken in order based on their priority population not based on residency status. Identification, such as a driver's license or employer ID badge, may be required to verify eligibility for the phase they are registering.
Temporary residents who are interested in being vaccinated are strongly encouraged to remain in the state for both the first and second dose of the vaccine. This will help ensure they will receive the benefits of full vaccination and have access to the same vaccine manufacturer for both doses. The different vaccine products will not be interchangeable and have variances in timeframes required for the second dose. The series of two doses must be completed with the same vaccine product.
Note: There is no sign-up process or pre-screen survey available for Phase 1B or 1C. More information about eligibility and the vaccine distribution process for populations prioritized in Phase 1B and 1C will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
On Dec. 1st, the CDC  Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to approve the recommendation of healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents as priority groups to receive initial doses of vaccine once it is approved by the FDA.
Per ACIP, health care workers are paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials (includes EMS).
Health-care personnel are a top priority because of their exposure to the virus and their critical role of keeping emergency services, hospitals, health clinics and other critical health services functioning. Residents and staff of long-term-care facilities were prioritized because they account for nearly 40 percent of deaths nationwide from COVID-19.
After healthcare workers and long-term care staff and residents have had the opportunity to receive vaccine, additional populations will be phased in as vaccine becomes available:
Phase 1B - Prioritized groups will include adults age 75 and older, teachers and child care workers, protective service occupations (e.g., law enforcement, corrections, emergency response workers). Additional prioritized groups later in this phase include adults 65-74, other essential services workers and adults with high-risk conditions living in congregate settings. Go to the Phase 1B page for more adults of any age with underlying health conditions putting them at greater risk for severe illness.
More information about prioritization of these groups and timelines for vaccination will be shared as information becomes available from state and local planning efforts.
There is no general sign-up or registration site for individuals to express interest in receiving vaccine. Due to initial limited supply of vaccine, distribution is being prioritized for those at highest risk per recommendations by federal vaccine advisory officials.
Once vaccine is more widely available in Phase 2, the general population will hear about its availability through typical distribution channels such as healthcare providers, pharmacies, community health clinics, employer-based clinics, and other avenues.
Vaccine Allocation & Distribution
Vaccine distribution to healthcare workers eligible in Phase 1A started Dec.17th. Maricopa County is partnering with local hospital systems and municipalities to operate five Point of Dispensing (POD) sites across the region for distribution of the first phase of the vaccine, primarily to health care workers, including EMS. Once priority populations in Phase 1A have had opportunity to be fully vaccinated (healthcare workers/EMS and long-term care residents), plans will move forward to vaccinate additional prioritized populations.
As additional vaccines are approved and vaccine supplies increase, COVID-19 vaccine will be available for everyone.
There will be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, but supply will continually increase in the weeks and months that follow. The timeline for when vaccine is available is dependent on the results of the clinical trials that are currently underway among tens of thousands of voluntary participants. MCDPH is planning for a variety of possible timelines for a phased vaccination process as vaccine candidates apply for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and begin the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process to ensure they are safe and effective before distributing them. Stay updated on this process on the FDA's COVID-19 Vaccine page.
Wondering what Emergency Use Authorization is and how this brings safe, effective medicines to people?Watch this short video from the FDA about how the EUA process has helped make important medical products available quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using CDC ACIP guidance, Arizona’s Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Advisory Committee (VAPAC) has provided vaccine allocation recommendations for county and tribal health jurisdictions to equitably reach critical populations and priority groups. The Maricopa County VAPAC provided further localized recommendations to ensure equitable distribution of vaccine and access within priority groups.
During the initial phase of the vaccination campaign, Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) will work closely with ADHS who will estimate critical populations and allocate vaccine for higher-risk individuals, health care professionals, and other essential workers as recommended by VAPAC.
MCDPH will be responsible for allocating its local vaccine allocation to providers in the County. For Phase 1A, 5 regional Point of Dispensing (POD) sites will receive allocations to vaccinate healthcare workers (by appointment only).
Once the initial need for local allocation has ended due to general availability of vaccine, all vaccinators will have the ability to order vaccine for their facilities outside of the local allocation process.
Due to limited supply, the state is using a centralized process to allocate vaccine during Phase 1. This will help to ensure as doses of vaccine become available, it is distributed equitably throughout the state to reach critical populations and priority groups.
To maximize resources and ensure equity in reaching healthcare workers throughout the county, Maricopa County is partnering with local hospital systems and municipalities to operate five Point of Dispensing (POD) sites across the region for distribution of the first phase of the vaccine, primarily to health care workers, including EMS. These will not be open to the public. Vaccinations will be by appointment only. For more information, please see our Phase 1A page.
As part of a nationwide vaccination strategy, all long-term care settings had an option to enroll in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program. Through this program, CDC has engaged retail pharmacy partners (CVS and Walgreens) to secure vaccine and provide on-site vaccination of residents, at no cost to the facility. Skilled Nursing Facilities residents and staff will receive the vaccine first followed by Assisted Living and other adult congregate settings.
Once the vaccine is more widely available, traditional locations such as doctor’s offices, health clinics and pharmacies will likely provide vaccinations. Drive-through or walk-up vaccination events at community spaces may also be offered. All vaccination locations will take additional safety measures for COVID-19, including physical distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and extra sanitation steps.
CDC’s v-safe is a new smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines. When you receive your vaccine, you should also receive a v-safe information sheet telling you how to enroll in v-safe. If you enroll, you will receive regular text messages directing you to surveys where you can report any problems or adverse reactions you have after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines must go through a rigorous and multi-step testing and approval process before they can be used. Throughout vaccine development and distribution, there are numerous safety measures. These include:
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes and monitors all clinical trials.
To get an Emergency Use Authorization, developers of a vaccine must provide a large amount of data on its safety and effectiveness to meet the rigorous standards set by the FDA
Independent advisory committees provide oversight and monitor for safety during vaccine development and testing.
Clinical trials for a vaccine continue after EUA is granted until enough data is available to grant full approval
After a vaccine is authorized for use, multiple safety monitoring systems are in place to watch for possible adverse events. If an unexpected serious adverse event is detected, experts work as quickly as possible to determine whether it is a true safety concern.
After a vaccine is authorized or approved for use, many vaccine safety monitoring systems watch for possible side effects. This continued monitoring can pick up on adverse events that may not have been seen in clinical trials and helps to ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for people who receive vaccines.
CDC is working to expand safety surveillance through new systems and additional information sources, as well as by scaling up existing safety monitoring systems specifically to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine safety in real time and make sure COVID-19 vaccines are as safe as possible.
According to clinical trial data reviewed by the FDA, the most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Of note, more people experienced these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose, so it is important for vaccination providers and recipients to expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose. Learn more.
There have been no deaths attributed to taking COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are immunocompromised, or are receiving immunosuppressant therapy, you may choose to be vaccinated, but may have a diminished immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine.
CDC recommends that the vaccine be administered to those with chronic health conditions if they have no contraindications.
If you have a history of severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis or requiring epinephrine injection or hospitalization) to another vaccine or injectable medication, you can still get the vaccine but will need to be observed for 30 minutes following the vaccination.
Individuals with history of severe reaction to mRNA vaccines, components of mRNA vaccines including polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate should not be vaccinated unless working with their healthcare provider or allergy specialist.
The only individuals who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis or requiring epinephrine injection or hospitalization) to this vaccine or any of its ingredients, including including polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate. Find ingredients in fact sheets for Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine.
General Topics
Yes. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will require two doses given 3 to 4 weeks, respectively, apart to provide maximum protection. The series of two doses must be completed with the same vaccine product. Your vaccine provider will let you know when you need an additional dose and help provide a way (e.g., a vaccination card) to remind you to return in the right amount of time so you can receive your second dose of the same product.
After receiving your first shot, everyone will receive a paper immunization record that will be completed at the time of vaccination. It will include the vaccine you received, date and location, and date when your next shot is needed. In most cases, individuals will be reminded by the provider where they received their first dose when it’s time to schedule their second shot. Because different COVID-19 vaccine products will not be interchangeable, a vaccine recipient's second dose must be from the same manufacturer as their first dose.
COVID-19 vaccines will be administered by intramuscular (IM) injection, a shot in the arm.
Yes, even if you get vaccinated, we recommend you continue with the other prevention measures you've been doing, such as washing your hands, wearing a mask, staying six feet apart, and limiting gatherings.
There will be no cost to get the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of insurance status. In early December,Gov. Ducey issued an Executive Order that ensures Arizonans can receive the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge for as long as the state's public health emergency declaration is in effect. If you do have insurance, you may be asked for it to that the provider can bill the insurer for its administrative fee. You will not be charged.
No, a vaccine will not end the pandemic by itself. A safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 will be a major breakthrough in preventing COVID-19 infections but needs to be used in combination with other prevention measures until enough people have immunity (either from a vaccine or a past infection). Even after a vaccine is available, it will be necessary to continue with the core COVID-19 safety precautions including limiting activities outside the home, physical distancing, and mask wearing for the foreseeable future as we learn more about how long the protection lasts and as more people become protected through vaccination over time.
We will continue to update these FAQs and add additional information as it becomes available. More information also can be found on the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine page. Learn more about finding credible vaccine information.
A POD, or Point of Dispensing, is a temporary site in the community where vaccines or medicines can be quickly administered to people in large numbers. A POD allows us to vaccinate as many people as possible in a quick, safe and efficient manner.
Due to the initial limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine, Maricopa County is partnering with local healthcare systems and municipalities to operate five drive-through POD sites across the county. In partnership with Grand Canyon University, a sixth POD site allowing for walk-up vaccination will open in late January. All Maricopa County POD sites are operated by certified medical staff and trained volunteers.
The Maricopa County Vaccine Prioritization Advisory Committee (MC-VPAC) is planning for distribution and administration of the vaccine, including prioritization of recipient groups in Maricopa County. This includes representatives of hospital systems, federally-qualified healthcare centers, pharmacies, first responders, and other medical experts.
In addition to strategizing logistics of vaccine distribution, other considerations include vaccine storage and handling, processes of signing up to receive the vaccine, administering the vaccine, reporting adverse events, and following up with vaccine recipients for their second dose.
Partners in Vaccine Delivery
Vaccine delivery partners can include healthcare systems, community health clinics, long term care facilities, first responders, critical infrastructure workforce, and organizations serving high-risk populations, such as older adults, people living homeless, and people who are incarcerated. Over the coming weeks and months, Public Health will continue to expand engagement with interested partners and stakeholders that will be a critical part of planning and delivery efforts.
Each EUA approved vaccine, Pfizer and Moderna, have different shipment and storage requirements. These variables will impact how the vaccine is distributed.
Any organization or provider that wants to provide vaccination will need to enroll as a COVID-19 vaccine provider and meet certain enrollment requirements such as demonstrating that they can administer the vaccine safely and meet vaccine storage and reporting requirements.
Individual providers are not getting vaccine supply for the initial allocation, but can onboard now for when there is additional supply and will be contacted at that point.
Major pharmacies will vaccinate long-term care staff and residents through a federal program.
Facilities that are not part of the pharmacy program can submit their information to MCDPH to request alternative support for vaccinating staff and residents.