PHOENIX (AP) - Maricopa County plans to close two of its six regional COVID-19 vaccination sites in coming weeks as public health officials put increased emphasis on smaller sites and events to give more shots.
The county’s northeast site operated by Honor Health in north Phoenix will last operate on Feb. 28 and the southeast site run by Dignity Health in Chandler will close in early March.
Officials say current appointments at each site will be honored.
Marcy Flanagan, executive director of Maricopa County Public Health, said the regional sites were the best way initially to get large amounts of vaccine to priority populations such as health care workers and emergency personnel.
The department now plans to administer more vaccinations through pop-up community events and locations such as long-term care centers, schools and child care facilities.
Some of those efforts are aimed at vaccinating older people who don’t have transportation or internet access and people whose primary language isn’t English.
According to the department, “the smaller, targeted events complement larger vaccination sites that serve the broader public.”
In another development, Arizona on Saturday reported 2,047 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 59 deaths, increasing the state’s pandemic totals to 806,163 cases and 15,480 deaths.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher than reported because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
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