With Hot Temperatures Coming, State Is Making Plans To Continue Vaccine Momentum.
“Every dose of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to an Arizona resident represents an essential step forward in our fight against COVID-19,” said Governor Ducey. “I’m so grateful to the thousands of staff and volunteers at vaccination sites statewide for their dedication and hard work, which has made this milestone possible.”
As of Tuesday morning, 1,007,600 Arizonans have received either both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. A total of 2,590,447 doses have been administered to 1,628,587 individuals since COVID-19 vaccine doses began arriving in Arizona in December.
“Of the many important milestones reached to date, this one is especially significant because it’s individuals who now have the full benefit of vaccination against COVID-19,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). “With 1 million fully vaccinated, there are still 6 million more Arizonans who potentially can have this protection as more vaccine becomes available.”
Nearly 700,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered at state mass-vaccination sites, which use a model that has won attention from other states and praise from President Joe Biden. On Monday, 77-year-old Surprise resident Judith Beaulieu received the 500,000th COVID-19 vaccine dose administered at the State Farm Stadium vaccination site, which has operated 24/7 since opening Jan. 11.
As summer approaches, ADHS and its partners are finalizing plans for continuing mass-vaccination operations in preparation for additional vaccine supplies expected from the federal government. In early April, for example, the State Farm Stadium site will convert to overnight operation to protect staff, volunteers, and patients from extreme heat. To replace that capacity at State Farm Stadium and other sites, the state is identifying indoor venues allowing for continued vaccination.
“The state has been able to establish mass-vaccination sites quickly at outdoor venues. Now we will replicate that in places allowing us to continue this momentum as temperatures climb,” Dr. Christ said. “We expect considerably more vaccine from the federal government in the coming weeks, and state sites will be part of a response that includes community-level efforts by counties, vaccine available at pharmacies and similar settings, and more.”
Information about all vaccination sites across Arizona can be found at azhealth.gov/findvaccine, and registration is available for state sites and many others at podvaccine.azdhs.gov. Those without computer access or needing extra help registering can call 1-844-542-8201 to be connected with someone who can assist.
“The COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and highly effective, and I urge all Arizonans to get the vaccine as soon as they are eligible,” Governor Ducey said. “I received my first shot on March 2, and I’m looking forward to getting my second.”
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination, please visit azdhs.gov/COVID19Vaccines.
COVID-19
State Adopts A Unique Model For COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization
Vaccine Prioritization To Continue Based On Age To Protect Those Most At Risk.
Arizona will continue its age-based approach to administering the vaccine. The new hybrid approach will ensure the distribution of vaccine doses to individuals at high risk of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death, from COVID-19 due to age while allowing local health departments to prioritize frontline essential workers through employer-based vaccination strategies.
“This critical update provides more clarity for Arizonans and will result in rapid administration of vaccine to our most vulnerable populations,” said Governor Ducey. “Continuing to vaccinate older Arizonans against COVID-19 will help protect those at risk and cover a majority of Arizonans with chronic medical conditions. And, this hybrid approach will ensure an equitable distribution of vaccine to our frontline workers who are working with the public every day.”
Ninety percent of Arizona’s deaths from COVID-19 have been among those 55 and older. Approximately 65 percent of those hospitalized due to COVID-19 are in that age group. Including adults 55 and older in the vaccine prioritization category will cover between 56 and 66 percent of Arizonans with medical conditions that place them at severe risk for adverse outcomes due to COVID-19. This figure grows to between 68 and 79 percent of Arizonans with high-risk medical conditions being eligible for vaccination when age of vaccine eligibility includes those 45 and older.
To provide Arizonans with clarity, a range for transitioning the age-based eligibility has been established. Local health departments may transition to the next age category when they reach 55 percent of that age category vaccinated OR feel that there is no longer demand for vaccine. ADHS will be adding data to the AZDHS website showing the percent of the population vaccinated in each age category to provide information for when counties may be progressing to the next age category. This strategy allows everyone in the state to know approximately when they will be eligible to receive vaccine. Those with chronic conditions will be included in their respective age categories.
This unanimous recommendation by the Arizona Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Advisory Committee (VAPAC), informed by data and strategies from federal and local partners, is intended to protect those who are most at risk for severe outcomes due to COVID-19, such as hospitalization and death. VAPAC includes state, local, and tribal experts, and health care partners.
“As more vaccine reaches Arizona, we will continue refining our plan to maximize the benefits of this still-limited resource,” said ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ. “Moving to a hybrid approach will allow us to rapidly and efficiently administer the vaccine and provide all Arizonans with a clearer estimate of when they will be eligible to be vaccinated.”
ADHS will open approximately 50,000 vaccination appointments at State Farm Stadium and Phoenix Municipal Stadium at noon on Tuesday, March 2, to those 55 and older for appointments starting March 4. Arizonans 55 and older will also be eligible to schedule appointments at pharmacies and federally qualified health centers participating in the federal vaccination programs.
In order to ensure younger populations at greatest risk of exposure will have access to vaccination as priority populations shift, local jurisdictions are able to prioritize frontline essential workers, based on available vaccine. Information on the phase each county is currently vaccinating, the number of doses ordered by each county, and location of vaccination sites can be found at azhealth.gov/findvaccine.
More than 1.8 million doses of vaccine have been administered to more than 1.2 million Arizonans, including nearly 600,000 who have received both doses.
Those in groups prioritized for vaccination can register for appointments at State Farm Stadium, Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and multiple other vaccination sites at podvaccine.azdhs.gov/. Information about all vaccination sites across Arizona can be found at azhealth.gov/findvaccine. Those without computer access or needing extra help registering can call 1-844-542-8201 to be connected with someone who can assist. Note: You can use the patient portal at podvaccine.azdhs.gov to make an appointment for a relative in a prioritized group, such as someone 55 and older.
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination, please visit azdhs.gov/COVID19Vaccines.
Governor Ducey Announces Next Phase Of Business And Safety Protocols
Occupancy Limits Expire, Distancing And Mask Protocols Remain.
The announcement follows 7 weeks of declining cases in Arizona, and the distribution of more than 2 million vaccines.
The following changes are reflected in a new Executive Order from Governor Ducey:
- For businesses, physical distancing and mask protocols will remain in place, however specific occupancy percentage limitations will expire. This applies to restaurants, gyms, theaters, water parks, bowling alleys, and bars providing dine in services.
- Spring Training and Major League Sports will have the ability to operate upon submission and approval of a plan to the Arizona Department of Health Services that demonstrates implementation of safety precautions and physical distancing.
- Mayors and local entities will still be precluded from implementing extreme measures that shut down businesses.
“We’ve learned a lot over the past year,” said Governor Ducey. “Our businesses have done an excellent job at responding to this pandemic in a safe and responsible way. We will always admire the sacrifice they and their employees have made and their vigilance to protect against the virus.
“Unlike other states, we never did a shutdown here in Arizona. We withstood the calls from the extremes on both sides, and we will continue to ignore them. We always knew that fighting this virus would be dependent on the personal responsibility of everyday Arizonans.
“Like the rest of the country, Arizona has made its way out of the winter surge of cases. And we are leading the nation in the vaccination roll out. Our mitigation strategies have been targeted and data driven.
“Today’s announcement is a measured approach; we are not in the clear yet. We need to continue practicing personal responsibility. Wear a mask. Social distance. Stay home when you’re sick and wash your hands frequently.
“With the vaccine rollout advancing rapidly, we continue to have hope for the future.”
View the Governor’s Executive Order HERE.
Governor Ducey Issues Executive Order Requiring Schools To Offer In-Person Learning
Order Sets March 15 Deadline To Get Students “Back In The Classroom”.
According to metrics developed by the CDC, 12 of Arizona’s 15 counties are in phases where all schools are safe to open, including in the state’s two largest counties, Maricopa and Pima.
“Arizona’s students need to be back in the classroom. More than half of Arizona’s schools are open and offering in-person options. More schools need to follow their lead, and pave the way for equitable education options for every Arizona student,” said Governor Ducey. “The CDC and numerous health officials have said time and time again that schools are safe and kids can go back to the classroom. We prioritized teachers in our vaccine distribution, and many have already received their second dose. The science is clear: it’s time all kids have the option to return to school so they can get back on track and we can close the achievement gap.”
Under the order, schools are to return to in-person learning by March 15, or after Spring Break. An exception is made for middle and high schools located in counties with “high” transmission of COVID-19, as defined by the CDC — which currently includes just three Arizona counties: Coconino, Yavapai, and Pinal. However, CDC is clear that there is a safe pathway for all schools to open at any transmission level, and to stay open if they implement proper mitigation strategies. A student may continue participating in virtual instruction if their parent or guardian chooses so.
The Governor’s order is being enthusiastically welcomed by champions of education in the Arizona state legislature.
“Arizona’s kids and families have undergone a tremendous amount of stress throughout the pandemic,” said Senator Paul Boyer of Glendale, Chairman of the Arizona Senate Education Committee.“I’m glad to see more students going back to the classroom, and today’s guidance from the Arizona Department of Health Services will help ensure families that are ready to send their kids back can do so.”
This sentiment is echoed by Mesa resident Representative Michelle Udall, Chairman of the House Education Committee.
“The data is clear — kids can go back to school,” she said. “Many students have fallen behind, especially those in low income communities. The Governor’s order will protect students’ needs, while following CDC guidance.”
Today’s order updates school reopening benchmarks developed and announced in August 2020, with the metrics recently developed by the CDC. The metrics define “low”, “moderate”, “substantial” and “high” transmission levels with operational strategies for schools to reopen at all transmission levels. The Arizona Department of Health Services released the latest county-by-county information based on the CDC metrics.
National Public Health Experts Agree
A recent report from the Journal of the American Medical Association note that schools are safe for students and faculty:
“As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the US as well as internationally, school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission…
“In the fall of 2020, 11 school districts in North Carolina with more than 90,000 students and staff were open for in-person education for 9 weeks. During this time, within-school transmissions were very rare (32 infections acquired in schools; 773 community-acquired infections) and there were no cases of student-to-staff transmission.”
Prominent health officials also have consistently stated that students can go back to the classroom.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, said on February 3:
“There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated. Vaccinations of teachers is not a prerequisite for safely reopening schools.”
“I want to be very clear about schools, which is: Yes, ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) has put teachers in the 1b category, the category of essential workers,” she said. “But I also want to be clear that there is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen and that that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely.”
Arizona included teachers in the 1B priority group for vaccination, meaning many have already received their second dose.
On January 28, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said:
“It’s less likely for a child to get infected in the school setting than if they were just in the community.”
In November 2020, former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said:
“The truth is, for kids K-12, one of the safest places they can be from our perspective is to remain in school.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services’ web dashboard will be updated to reflect these new criteria, and will still share all relevant data. According to the CDC’s benchmarks, grades kindergarten through sixth should be open for hybrid learning, no matter the infection rate in the community. For middle and high school, the CDC also recommends hybrid in all Arizona counties. Under these criteria, schools must offer in-person learning.
View the updated CDC guidance HERE.
View the Governor’s Executive Order HERE.
Scientists Track California Variant in Arizona
Healthcare officials strive to open more COVID-19 vaccination clinics as deliveries arrive.
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has created a COVID-19 Variant Sequencing Dashboard to make it easier for anyone to keep track of the variants found in Arizona at pathogen.tgen.org/covidseq-tracker/footer.
At the same time, the Department of Health and Human Services reports that both Moderna and Pfizer have been experiencing a backlog of orders for the COVID-19 vaccine because of severe weather in the eastern part of the country. So far, more than 1.3 million doses have been administered across Arizona. Yavapai County has administered nearly 50,000 vaccines; more than 5,000 are second doses.
In mid-February, Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH), which operates Verde Valley Medical Center and Flagstaff Medical Center, reported administering 10,000 doses, with more than 2,500 going to community residents. “Right now our goal is to give at least 500 doses a day,” said NAH Chief Quality Officer Dr. John Mougin.
“The most common side effect is soreness in the arm and, really, that’s no different than any other vaccine you may have received. It’s from the injection itself and the needle,” he said. “You can get low-grade fevers, body aches or joint aches. Those things we’re seeing a little bit more frequently with the second shot than the first shot.”
NAH officials are working with Yavapai County to open vaccine clinics in Camp Verde and Sedona, which they expect to occur in the next couple of weeks, depending on vaccine availability. “We are distributing the vaccine in Prescott as well as the rest of Yavapai County at a fairly decent rate,” said Mougin. “One of the NAH goals is to partner with the counties to really make Coconino County and Yavapai County the leaders of the state as far as the rate of vaccinations.”
Currently, NAH is vaccinating those in the 1a and 1b categories. “I have confidence that by late spring we should be doing 1c,” he said.
Phase 1a includes healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff members.
Phase 1b includes priority populations such as education and childcare workers, teachers and staff. This includes all school and higher education staff members who normally interact with other staff and students, and bus drivers, cafeteria workers, facilities staff, etc.; law enforcement and protective services (corrections, other emergency response staff); individuals aged 65 and older.
Phase 1b additional populations include:
Power and utility workers
Food and agriculture related occupations (packaging and distribution workers, grocery and restaurant workers)
Transportation and material moving occupations (public transportation providers, airlines, gas stations, auto shop workers, and other transportation network providers)
State and local government workers that provide critical services for continuity of government
Other essential workers (e.g., business and financial services, supply chain for critical goods, funeral services
Meanwhile, as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Northern Arizona, NAH Chief Nursing Officer Tyffany Laurano says creative strategies have helped to ensure that enough healthcare workers have been available to treat patients. “One thing that we’re most proud of as an organization is we maintained our nursing ratios throughout the duration of the pandemic, and that has not changed. We have travelers [traveling healthcare workers] with us, as well as some temporary staff.”
Healthcare officials continue to stress masking and distancing. “Even after you get vaccinated, it’s important to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions,” said Yavapai County Community Health Services Public Health Coordinator Terri Farneti.
For COVID-19 vaccine information and appointment availability, visit yavapai.us/chs/Home/COVID-19/Vaccine. QCBN
By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN
Flags At Half-Staff To Honor Lives Lost To COVID-19
We mourn each and every life lost — loved ones, family, friends, neighbors.
“As we pull together and continue to work to save lives and fight COVID-19, we also grieve and pray for all the lives we’ve lost in Arizona and across the nation to this disease,” said Governor Ducey. “We mourn each and every life lost — loved ones, family, friends, neighbors. Every life is precious, and we will continue to work hard to protect more Arizonans and overcome the devastating effects of the pandemic. In coordination with the President’s proclamation, I’ve ordered flags at half-staff starting tomorrow to honor the lives lost. Our hearts and our prayers are with all those impacted by COVID-19.”
Ducey Issues Executive Order To Ensure Students Stay On Track
Governor Doug Ducey today signed an Executive Order directing the State Board of Education to study student assessment data and identify the learning loss that occurred during the pandemic so students and families can get the support they need.
The issuance of the order followed the Governor’s signing of House Bill (HB) 2402, which ensures students continue to be evaluated and provides flexibility around the state’s school grading system.
“This will ensure we continue to have accountability in our education system, so parents can make the best educational choice for their kids,” the Governor said in a signing letter.
“After all, these are our future leaders and it is incumbent upon us that we ensure they are prepared for success,” he added. “Any future attempts to suspend this grading system will necessitate a much greater level of justification.”
McKinsey & Company estimates that in Fall 2020, students on average started school about three months behind where they were expected to be in mathematics. When it comes to reading, students started school a month and a half behind where they were expected to be.
Today’s Executive Order directs the State Board of Education to utilize AZMerit and AZM2 assessments and other data to draw comparisons to prior years and identify the extent of learning loss that has occurred during the pandemic.
HB2402, introduced by Representative Michelle Udall, will help students get the help they need by continuing to test student educational attainment levels. It also provides flexibility around Arizona’s A-F grading system, recognizing the unique circumstances families and students have faced in the last year. Senator Paul Boyer introduced mirror legislation, SB1178, in the Senate.
View the Governor’s letter HERE.
View the Governor’s Executive Order HERE.
Navajo Nation’s Major Disaster Declaration Approved
President Nez declared a public health emergency in response to the pandemic on March 11 before a single case was confirmed in the Nation. Despite proactive precautions, the Navajo Nation has confirmed over 28,000 COVID-19 infections and more than 1,000 deaths. Navajo Nation hospitals are operating at capacity levels greater than their previous peak in May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that American Indians and Alaska Natives are at a disproportionate risk for complications from COVID-19, due to health and socioeconomic disparities for these communities.
New U.S. COVID-19 Air Travel Rules
Are you considering an international trip? If so, read on. The CDC has issued a COVID-19 order that may impact your plans for re-entering the United States.
Effective January 26, 2021 travelers arriving in the U.S. must:
1) Get tested for COVID-19 no more than 3 days before departing to the United States and show a negative test result to the airline before boarding OR 2) show documentation of recent recovery from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding.
This new order applies to all air passengers — including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents — aged 2 years and older. It also applies regardless of the length of time spent outside of the United States.
Acceptable documentation of recovery from COVID-19 includes both a positive viral test result within 3 months of travel (or the time period specified in current CDC guidance) AND a letter from a healthcare provider or public health official stating that the passenger is cleared to end isolation.
Passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19 will need to delay their travel until they meet the criteria to end isolation; learn more here.
Need more information? Visit this FAQ page at CDC.gov.
The Shot Felt Round the World
Healthcare officials across Arizona high-fived, cheered, elbow-bumped and even shed tears of gratitude as the first doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered on Tuesday, Dec. 22. “This is a great way to end the year,” said Dr. Kristina Kezar, M.D., from Verde Valley Medical Center. “What a Christmas gift for me and the safety of my family and the community. I’m ecstatic. I’m honored.”
Moments earlier, Flagstaff Medical Center Critical Care Nurse Stacey Payne, R.N. received the vaccine in Flagstaff. “I am so excited,” she said. “I feel like our whole planet is coming together to give us hope to get out of this. I just really hope this will turn things around for us.”
The vaccination arrived in Central and Northern Arizona as hospital officials around the state continued to juggle capacity and staffing issues. At Yavapai Regional Medical Center, the number of patients in dedicated COVID-19 units continued to rise at both campuses.
YRMC spokesperson Kenneth Boush says hospital staff members are “exhausted” and have had to adapt daily to meet the ongoing demand of treatment. In late December, YRMC-Prescott was at 105% capacity; the Prescott Valley location was at 112%. There were 10 total COVID units between the two hospitals by Dec. 23.
“We are in historical territory here,” Boush said. “We’ve never seen this kind of patient flow come through our hospitals.”
Normally, both hospitals are set up to care for about 185 patients total. The hospital staff has repurposed units to add more beds. Many staff members have worked overtime for the past 10 months to help meet the demand for care.
However, the arrival of the Moderna vaccine created noticeable optimism among healthcare workers for the New Year. Northern Arizona
Healthcare Chief Quality Officer Dr. John Mougin said the Moderna vaccine is a messenger RNA vaccine. “It’s not actually virus. It is a vaccine that induces cells in your body to produce a protein called the spike protein. Your body then recognizes the spike protein as something that’s not supposed to be there and creates an immune reaction against that. Then, if you are exposed to the virus in the future, your body will recognize that quickly as being something it needs to get rid of, and that creates the immunity.”
Yavapai County Community Health Services spokesperson Terri Farneti said she expected to receive another delivery of the vaccine before the end of 2020, with pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS able to begin vaccinating the general public soon.
Health officials say the Moderna vaccine is easier to store and has a longer shelf life than the Pfizer vaccine. Both require two doses that need to be administered about a month apart to ensure full vaccination. The Arizona Department of Health will be informed each week of how many doses to expect. It will allot those, by county, based on the percentage of residents in a priority group. Distribution information will be reported back to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
At YRMC, all elective, or non-urgent, inpatient and outpatient procedures have been put on hold since Dec. 21, because of the rising COVID-19 hospitalizations. “This was a difficult decision, but one that is necessary due to high COVID-19 admission rates at our hospitals,” said YRMC Chief Operating Officer Keith Nichols. “By pausing outpatient and inpatient hospital procedures, we manage bed capacity and staffing levels to care for the high patient volumes we are experiencing.”
Despite the busy hospitals, Boush said he doesn’t want to discourage anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to seek medical treatment. “Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center is well-prepared to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “Anyone in need of care, especially emergency care, should not hesitate to seek the care they need.”
Meantime, health officials stress the continued importance of hand washing, masks and social distancing. QCBN
By Brent Ruffner and Bonnie Stevens, QCBN