Pilot Program Targets Certain ZIP Codes For Vaccine Sign-up

Across Arizona — The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has started a pilot program designed to help connect people from specific ZIP codes to the COVID-19 vaccine. The targeted ZIP codes are areas where COVID-19 numbers have been high and vaccine numbers low.

One such area is the 85009 ZIP code, just west of downtown Phoenix. An area with a majority-Hispanic population, ZIP code 85009 has had 8,300 cases of COVID-19 out of an estimated population of 57,000, according to the ADHS. As of Monday, less than 3,000 residents of that area had been vaccinated.

But the ADHS has taken a series of steps within the community to raise awareness about the vaccine, increase education about its effectiveness and help residents overcome various barriers, like language or lack of transportation, that might prevent them from getting the vaccine.

"This pilot program demonstrates how hard we are working to make sure all Arizonans who are eligible for the vaccine have easy access to a vaccination site," Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said in a statement Monday. "More than 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across the state, and we will continue to work with local partners to ensure communities in need connect with helpful resources as we ramp up distribution.”

According to a release, ADHS's outreach in the 85009 ZIP code has included: social-media messaging, yard signs and volunteers fanning out across the area to get people registered. There also have been telephone town halls conducted in both Spanish and English, and more are scheduled this week.

The ADHS also continues to partner with faith leaders from the Hispanic community, who have spoken to members of that community about the importance of getting the vaccine.

As of Monday, the ADHS said the pilot program in the 85009 ZIP code has registered over 400 people for the vaccine. The agency said it also will provide taxis for those who need transportation to state-run vaccination sites.

"Our work in ZIP code 85009 is just the beginning,” said Dr. Cara Christ, ADHS director. "The state and our local partners are out to remove barriers to vaccination in additional underserved areas."

Next, the program plans to target underserved neighborhoods in southwest and east Phoenix, while looking to reach out to even more of Arizona.

ADHS also offers a bilingual COVID-19 Vaccine Navigation Help Desk at 844-542-8201 for those needing extra assistance with registration. The agency continues to add information and resources in Spanish, including the online scheduling tool, at the Patient Portal website.

According to Ducey, the state had administered nearly 2.2 million vaccine does through Tuesday, including 551,733 at state-run sites.