Medical assistant Andreea Marian, right, gives a COVID-19 vaccine to Gabina Morales at a clinic at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Thursday, June 3, 2021, in Bellingham, Wash. Washington is the latest state to offer prizes to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, with Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announcing a series of giveaways during the month of June that includes lottery drawings totaling $2 million, college tuition assistance, airline tickets and game systems. /AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
By The Associated Press
Arizona’s state-run COVID-19 vaccination sites, which were touted as a national model, will be shutting down later this month.
The state Department of Health Services announced Thursday all its mass vaccination sites are gradually winding down operations and will be closed by June 28.
Health officials pointed to the growing number of options for people to get vaccinated including pharmacies, doctors’ offices and pop-up clinics.
Approximately 1.6 million vaccine doses have been administered across state mass vaccination sites. The very first one, which opened in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, drew praise from President Joe Biden.
More than 5.9 million doses so far have been administered in the state. Around 3.3 million people have received at least one dose. More than 2.8 million have gotten both doses — that’s less than half of the state’s population eligible to receive vaccines.
