Maricopa County Closing 2 Vaccine Distribution Sites

PHOENIX — Maricopa County will be losing two of its six coronavirus vaccination sites, or PODs, according to health officials.

Maricopa County Health Department Director Marcy Flanagan made the announcement during a Thursday news conference, saying the county is shifting its strategy around how to effectively administer the vaccine.

The Dignity Health site in the southeast part of the county and the HonorHealth site in the northeast part of the county will both close, but Flanagan said no currently scheduled appointments will be affected. The Arizona Department of Health Services announced Monday that the Dignity Health site at Chandler-Gilbert Community College will begin operating as a state vaccination site on March 3, saving it from closure.

According to Flanagan, the drive-thru sites were never meant to be the only form of vaccine distribution.

“Now that we have other types of vaccine sites available, some of our PODs will be closing, and this is according to our plans,” Flanagan said.

No date was given for their closure.

The sites were originally only intended to vaccinate those in Phase 1a but have stayed open to help vaccinate those in Phase 1b. Vaccines are now also being offered at pharmacies, primary care offices, federally qualified health centers and special community pop-up events. Two state-run mass vaccination sites are located in Maricopa County as well.

Flanagan said the county is looking at other ways of rolling out the vaccine, including events in rural and urban parts of the Valley and reaching out to those who speak multiple languages.

“While some drive-thru PODs will be ongoing, we will continue to create other ways and locations for people to get vaccinated with a focus on targeted events based on community needs," she said at the news conference.

The Maricopa County Health Department and the Arizona Department of Health Services did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

About 15 percent of adults in the county have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to officials. More than 180,000 residents have received both doses. Maricopa County began vaccinating adults over the age of 65 on Monday.