Today marks one year since the first COVID-19 vaccine doses reached Arizona
One year ago today, Governor Ducey announced that Arizona had received its first doses of COVID-19 vaccine. With safe, free, and highly effective COVID-19 vaccines readily available these days at retail pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and community clinics, it seems long, long ago when the vaccine supply was extremely limited and the first doses were reserved for frontline healthcare workers. On [...]
CDC expands COVID-19 booster authorization to 16- and 17-year-olds
Even more Arizonans are eligible for booster doses of safe, free, and highly effective COVID-19 vaccine following today’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcement recommending boosters for 16- and 17-year-olds. At this time, only the Pfizer booster is recommended for 16- and 17-year-olds, just as Pfizer is the only vaccine authorized for those younger than 18. Today’s recommendation, [...]
Vaccine breakthrough data report added to ADHS COVID-19 dashboard
Today, we’ve launched the first version of a report showing statewide COVID-19 case and death rates by vaccination status. The report demonstrates the significant increases in risk of COVID-19 infection and death among those who are not vaccinated. In October, unvaccinated persons in Arizona had a 3.9 times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 and a 15.2 times greater [...]
Now is the time to get vaccinated against influenza
A year ago, the precautions so many Arizonans took against COVID-19 - staying indoors, avoiding large groups, and wearing masks - also helped protect against the flu. There were fewer flu cases in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many Arizonans have returned to their pre-pandemic routines, and we expect flu cases [...]
Washing your hands remains as important as ever
From the time most people were children, parents and teachers stressed the importance of washing our hands. In the nearly two years since COVID-19 appeared, health officials around the world have repeated the same good advice. As we recognize National Handwashing Awareness Week, with holiday gatherings underway and COVID-19 still very active in Arizona, removing germs from your hands with [...]
Arizona has plenty of vaccine for COVID-19 vaccine boosters and first doses
I’m glad to see the ADHS data dashboard showing increased demand lately for COVID-19 booster shots and primary vaccinations. Federal officials and ADHS have advised repeatedly that vaccination is the best way to prepare for uncertainties posed by the Omicron variant, not to mention from COVID-19 in general. While there are news reports saying that some areas are seeing waits [...]