Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce | Virginia Mercury/States Newsroom
By Laura Gómez | Arizona Mirror
As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues in Arizona, thousands in the state’s two biggest counties are waiting for the next phase of vaccination to open up to a group largely known as essential workers.
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Because vaccine supply is limited, the state is vaccinating in phases giving priority to groups that are most at-risk. As of Thursday, 811,023 people in Arizona have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Feb. 15, Maricopa County will open vaccination to adults 65 and older as part of Phase 1B priority. That means that adults of that age group in all but three of the state’s 15 counties are eligible to get the vaccine. This week, Pima County expanded its 1B Priority category to adults 70 and older.
The next phase is known as the 1B category, which includes workers in critical industries and essential services; adults with high-risk conditions living in congregate settings; and — in Pima, Santa Cruz, and Mohave counties — adults over 65.
Who exactly is considered an essential worker will depend on the county. The state’s vaccination plan allows counties to implement their own sub-prioritization as needed for their jurisdiction.
