Big Idea
- There’s a new vaccination site in Phoenix
- They plan to vaccinate 500 per day while waiting for more vaccines from the Federal government
- Several partners are working together
- Read more…
A second COVID-19 site has been launched at ASU’s Phoenix Municipal Stadium
PHOENIX ‒ The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and partners today launched a second COVID-19 vaccination site at Arizona State University’s (ASU) Phoenix Municipal Stadium, building on a state model that has vaccinated more than 100,000 people since Jan. 11 at State Farm Stadium.
“We have drastically ramped up COVID-19 vaccination throughout the state thanks to our state-run site at State Farm Stadium, and we’ll accelerate that momentum at our new Phoenix Municipal Stadium Site,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Arizonans want this life-saving vaccine and we have capacity to get it to them, but we need more doses from our federal partners. We will open up more sites across Arizona once we get more supply. My sincere thanks to ASU, Arizona Complete Care, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walmart, and all partners who have been instrumental in expanding vaccinations at this site.”
Unlike the 24/7 State Farm Stadium site, which vaccinates thousands a day, the Phoenix Municipal Stadium site will start out by offering 500 appointments a day seven days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. When additional vaccine doses are available from the federal government, the site can be quickly scaled up to the same capacity as the other state-run site.
“Opening this second state vaccination site is a story of partnership and potential,” said ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ. “Working closely with the Arizona Department of Emergency Management, we have established a model that’s drawn attention from other states, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal partners. If Arizona is allocated additional vaccine in the future, we can rapidly expand this site, add appointments, and open even more sites around the state.”
The Phoenix Municipal Stadium site, launched in partnership with ASU, Arizona Complete Care, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walmart, and others, began serving those with appointments at noon today. The patients include healthcare workers, first responders, teachers, law enforcement officers, Arizonans over age 65, and others at the top of the priority list for vaccine distribution.
Volunteers with Arizona Complete Health and the Arizona Diamondbacks will be critical to operating the site.
“At Arizona Complete Health, our mission is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time,” said Martha Smith, President and CEO of Arizona Complete Health. “We are humbled to be part of this public-private partnership at Phoenix Municipal vaccine distribution site, a model of our aligned mission. Striving toward improving our community’s health means rolling up our sleeves, not just to get the vaccination when it is our turn, but also to be of service. For the next few months, our employees are honored to help check people in, collect paperwork, and direct traffic. These seemingly trivial functions will have a lasting impact in helping Arizona turn the corner on this pandemic and we are thrilled to do our part.”
ADHS has contracted with Walmart to provide pharmacy support and ASU to provide operational support and additional staffing, supplies, and resources.
“ASU takes fundamental responsibility for the communities we serve, so when the state called and requested assistance in running its vaccination sites, we were quick to jump into action,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “Our experience managing more than 100 COVID-19 testing sites across the state allowed us to quickly operationalize the State Farm vaccine site. In partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services, we’re now pleased to launch the Phoenix Municipal Stadium vaccine site and will support this effort through site staffing, traffic control, and clinicians to quickly deploy the COVID vaccines to more Arizonans. I would like to personally thank all of the staff and volunteers who are working 24/7 to help Arizona defend against COVID-19.”
All appointments at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium and State Farm Stadium sites have been booked through February, though ADHS plans to make more appointments available as additional vaccine becomes available.
Registration is available for the vaccination sites at State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal Stadium and several other sites throughout the state at podvaccine.azdhs.gov. Information about all vaccination sites across Arizona can be found at azhealth.gov/findvaccine. You can use the patient portal at podvaccine.azdhs.gov to make an appointment for a relative in a prioritized group, such as someone 65 and older.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccination, please visit azhealth.gov/COVID19vaccine.
