ARCHIVE – On this January 10, 2021, home health care workers with pictures and their patients begin receiving Modern COVID-19 vaccines at a drive-thru vaccination clinic in Portland, Oregon. (Kristyna Wentz-Graff / Photo of the pool via AP, Archive)
PHOENIX – The total number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Arizona now exceeds the number of people tested positive for coronavirus, according to data from the state health department.
The Arizona Department of Health Services said in its daily update on Friday afternoon that 822,821 vaccines were administered in the state.
That morning, the department reported 3,826 new cases on its COVID-19 panel, bringing the total to 775,622 infections.
In Thursday’s updates, the state had about 771,000 cases with 766,000 doses of vaccine administered.
Arizona receives new shipments of vaccines from the federal government each week. Total allocation increased to 1,195,000 vaccines on Monday, with 44% still unused. As of Friday, the state had 31% of its offer.
Since Monday, 151,308 shots have been fired in Arizona.
The two vaccines approved for use in the USA, Moderna and Pfizer, each require two doses with an interval of several weeks to achieve the effectiveness of the filling. Friday’s health department update showed 145,879 people completing the two-dose series, an increase of 102,002 on Monday.
Arizona is requesting a larger allocation as it increases the rate of injections. State-run mass vaccination sites at State Farm Stadium in Glendale and Phoenix Municipal Stadium have been operating below capacity due to a lack of supply. Both sites are reserved until February, although more appointments are added for the month if more vaccine is available.
Vaccines that have been in use in the United States since December must be kept frozen during shipping and storage. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have also been in short supply, leading authorities to limit distribution to high-risk populations.
Aid may be on the way in the form of a single dose vaccine, which can be easily disbursed in pharmacies and doctor’s offices. The Johnsons & Johnson vaccine was submitted to US regulators for review on Thursday and is expected to receive emergency use authorization later this month.
To learn more about vaccine availability, the Arizona Department of Health Services website has a vaccine location page with a map of locations and registration information.