 More than 20,000 people have signed up to get COVID-19 vaccines; more vaccine on the way
CORRECTION: Revision made to be more accurate in terms of registrations vs. appointments. Inserted or changed words underlined.
The following is a joint statement from Dr. Francisco Garcia, Pima County Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Theresa Cullen, Pima County Health Department Director, about the success of today's start of Phase 1B vaccine registrations and the need for patience.
"The public’s response to Pima County beginning 1B vaccine registration today has been tremendous. In just two hours, more than 20,000 Pima County residents were able to register to get appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days.
As you know, there is a limited amount of vaccine. All of the current appointments for available vaccine at the two Banner-operated vaccination sites and at Tucson Medical Center are accounted for through the registration process.
This is causing frustration for members of the public who are still trying to get vaccination appointments at the County's vaccine registration portal. More appointments will be made available as we confirm with the state increased distribution of vaccines to Pima County and as two other vaccination centers come online next week focused on educators and people employed in protective services.
We know there is a great deal of anxiety in members of the public about COVID-19 and interest in getting the vaccine to protect themselves from contracting it. But there will be more than 400,000 people in the 1B priority group once 65 and older people are added in. It will take several months to vaccinate all the people in this group.
We hope to have our vaccine allotment from the state increased in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we ask for patience as we move forward with this enormous effort to protect everyone in Pima County from this terrible disease."
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