Ducey Signs Order To Accelerate Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution

ARIZONA — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order Wednesday to expand access to the coronavirus vaccine and establish additional vaccination sites throughout the state.

Instead of allowing each county to implement their own plans, the new order has directed the Arizona Department of Health Services to implement their own to ensure a uniform approach and speed up the vaccination of the state's most vulnerable.

“Across the country, news of delays in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine are being reported,” Ducey said in a statement. “While Arizona has avoided many of these issues, any delay in shots being given to Arizonans is unacceptable. The development of the vaccine was called Operation Warp Speed, and the distribution of the vaccine should follow that same sense of urgency. Vaccines don’t do any good sitting in a freezer.”

More than 57,000 doses of the vaccine have been given across the state as of Tuesday, the health department reported at a Wednesday news conference.

The governor also announced that the state will begin reporting daily vaccination data by county. Local health departments must also provide 24 hours of notice to the health department before moving from one phase of its vaccination plan to another to ensure that the public has time to make a vaccination plan.

In Arizona's current vaccination plan, health care workers and long-term care facility residents have been given first priority. A recent update will allow Arizonans over the age of 75 to be vaccinated in the next phase, along with educators and other front line workers.

Arizona reported 5,267 new coronavirus cases and 78 additional deaths Wednesday. Coronavirus patients occupy 61 percent of the state's ICU beds. Only 178 ICU beds remain vacant in the entire state.