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Misunderstanding With State Slows Vaccine Distribution In Pima County

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Friday, February 5, 2021 - 11:55am
Updated: Friday, March 19, 2021 - 12:14pm
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Arizona’s Department of Health Services reported 3,826 new cases of COVID-19 Feb. 5. In the past 24 hours, the department recorded 196 COVID-19 deaths. To date, nearly 14,000 Arizonans have died from COVID-related illness.

The state is reporting all vaccination appointments for the remainder of February are booked at state-run facilities; March appointments are not yet being accepted.

Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans have received at least one dose of the two-step vaccination for COVID-19. But supply has been lower than hoped, and distribution has been slower than anticipated.

In Pima County, a misunderstanding between its health department and the state Department of Health Services has led to confusion over whether the county wanted a state-run vaccine point of distribution site — similar to what the Valley has at State Farm Stadium.

For more on what’s happening with COVID-19 vaccination in Pima County, The Show spoke with Jim Nintzel, executive editor for Tucson Weekly.

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