By Stephanie Innes | Arizona Republic
The COVID-19 vaccine is free and prevents illness, Arizona’s state health director assured residents of a vulnerable community during a town hall event on Tuesday evening.
Given a chance to air concerns, residents of Phoenix ZIP code 85009, which has a low COVID-19 vaccination rate, were most curious about logistics, including how to qualify and what paperwork is required.
The eight questions asked during the 30-minute telephone town hall with Dr. Cara Christ, the Arizona Department of Health Services director, focused on the safety, cost and parameters of getting vaccinated. Those who didn’t get a chance to ask questions were told to remain on the line and record their question.
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Christ assured callers that the vaccine prevents hospitalization and death, that it’s free, and is not only for U.S. citizens or permanent residents of Arizona. While the vaccine has side effects such as fever and fatigue, “what we haven’t seen is a large amount of adverse outcomes,” from the vaccine, she said.
