Maricopa County to expand vaccination eligibility to adults 65 And older; Launches new data dashboard 

With more than 44 percent of people 75 and older now having received at least one vaccine dose, Maricopa County is excited to expand vaccine eligibility to adults 65 and older in all vaccine locations starting Monday, February 15. This decision is in alignment with the federal pharmacy vaccine program scheduled to begin later this week, which will bring vaccine to 182 pharmacies in Maricopa County.  

“The data shows that our decision to provide older adults a little extra time to access vaccine has proven successful and the timing is now right to invite our residents 65 and older to step up and get vaccinated,” said Marcy Flanagan, director of Maricopa County Department of Public Health.  

MCDPH estimates there are nearly 400,000 adults ages 65-74 eligible for the vaccine in Maricopa County. 

In addition, community members will now have the opportunity to review Maricopa County vaccination data on their own on a newly launched dashboard available at Maricopa.gov/COVID19vaccinedata. This dashboard shows: 

• Almost 430,000, or 12%, of Maricopa County residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine 
• More than 120,000 Maricopa County residents (about one in four people who have received at least one dose) have been fully vaccinated with 2 doses of vaccine 
• About half of those vaccinated in Maricopa County are 65 years or older  

Public Health is focused on ensuring equitable access to the vaccine across racial and socioeconomic levels.  Working with partners, MCDPH is making vaccine appointments when and where they are convenient for people. Efforts include:  

• Setting up five regional drive-through sites across the county, then adding a sixth, more centrally-located site close to public transit with a walk-through option for those who do not have their own vehicles.   
• Allocating vaccine doses to pharmacies across the county so people can get their shots at locations near them where they may get care or medications already.   
• Launching neighborhood pop-up vaccination events. These short-term events are intended to bridge gaps in accessibility that will bring vaccine to where people who are eligible and need vaccine are, such as more rural parts of the county or where there are high numbers of people who are eligible. 

The data dashboard shows these efforts are helping to make vaccine available to those who might not otherwise be able to get it.  For example, in Maricopa County, American Indians and Alaskan Natives have been vaccinated at almost twice the rate of Whites. 

As supply allows, MCDPH will continue to make vaccine available through more and varied sites to address the different needs of people across our community.