The day after Pima County COVID-19 vaccination sites started taking registrations for those 55 and older, the state-run site at University of Arizona is doing the same.
Arizona and county residents ages 55-plus can begin registering online at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 13 for UA appointments that could be available as soon as Monday, March 15.
Pima County on Friday also expanded vaccine eligibility to the younger age group, as well as to front-line essential workers who are in regular, close contact with co-workers, the public or both.
The county’s front-line essential workers who are ages 55 and older are asked to get their vaccinations at the UA site.
About a dozen people contacted the Arizona Daily Star through emails or phone calls Friday, perplexed about why there were no county appointments available after these new groups were added.
The county opened registration but cautioned that appointments will become open only as more vaccine becomes available. Currently, most new appointments set for county sites — which include Tucson Medical Center and Kino Stadium — will be scheduled for April.
The county changed to ages 55-plus this week in order to stay aligned with what the state and pharmacies are doing, said Mark Evans, communications director for Pima County.
“The more varied the rules are, the more confusing it is for the public,” he said.
However, Evans said since vaccine supply is still limited, appointments before the middle of April remain difficult to come by.
“Vaccine supplies have been slowly increasing week to week and if that continues, the process will speed up and the frustration level will lower,” he said. “At the rate we’re going, we’ll have more than 400,000 doses by the end of this month and more than 200,000 (people) fully vaccinated.”
Before this week’s change, Pima County appointments had been open to people 65 and older.
Vaccinations at the UA site and county-run sites will continue for groups previously listed under Phase 1A and Prioritized Phase 1B including:
Health-care workers and health-care support workers;
Emergency medical services workers;
Long-term care facility staff and residents;
Educators and child-care workers;
Protective service workers such as police and firefighters.
Front-line essential workers can now register for the UA state site if they are over 55 or with a county site if they are under age 55. This includes people who work in one of the following industries:
Food and agriculture;
Manufacturing;
Grocery or convenience stores and carnicerias;
Restaurants and bars;
The U.S. Postal Service;
Public transit such as buses, light rail, Uber, Lyft and taxi services;
State and local government workers.
Photos: COVID-19 vaccinations in Tucson, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccination clinic, retirement community
COVID-19 vaccinations, University of Arizona Mall
COVID-19, clinic, TCC
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, PIma County, Hacienda at the Canyon
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
COVID-19 vaccinations, Pima County
Contact reporter Patty Machelor at pmachelor@tucson.com or 806-7754. On Twitter: @pattymachstar
Where to register
Arizona residents who would like to sign up for COVID-19 vaccination at the state-runn site at the University of Arizona can register online at podvaccine.azdhs.gov .
Those requiring assistance, including those who would like to speak with bilingual schedulers, can call 602-542-1000.
For all registration options in Pima County or to get more information about who is eligible, see pima.gov/covid19vaccine .
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and his top health official say they are sorry people have struggled to make a vaccine appointment and they …
The drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site. The county opened registration but cautioned that appointments will become open only as more vaccine becomes available.