State Cuts Force Pima County To Alter Vaccination Plan

TUCSON, AZ — Pima County is forced to roll back the acceleration of its coronavirus vaccination plan due to "severe" cuts in the number of doses it receives from the state.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry told the Board of Supervisors in a Feb. 12 memorandum that the Pima County Health Department will release a new vaccine distribution priority plan next week after Arizona has begun rationing its vaccine doses.

“The lack of predictability and weekly fluctuations in vaccine supply has impacted our ability to commit to vaccination schedules that accommodate the needs of our community,” Huckelberry told the board.

The distribution plan will likely focus on the county's most vulnerable residents first, as well as those in need of second doses. Then it will turn to first doses for people 70 and older, followed by people 65 and over. The county is currently vaccinating those eligible in priority Phase 1b.

Huckelberry said the state has cut Pima County's doses for the second week in a row. Last week, the county's allotment was reduced by 40 percent, from 29,000 the first week of February to 17,850. This week, it was cut to just 16,300 doses. The county's accelerated plan aims to fully vaccinate 300,000 people by the end of March, which could be halted by the cuts.

“The current inadequate allocation has resulted in our inability to fully utilize our developed and in place infrastructure, limited new first dose appointments (delaying immunization of those 70 and over), and delaying our planned vaccination for at-risk congregate settings,” Huckelberry wrote.

As a result, first doses will be limited for a little while, according to Pima County Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen. Nearly 100,000 people are expected to receive their second doses in the next four weeks, she said.

“Bottom line is we need more vaccine, but I’m sympathetic to the state’s dilemma. There just isn’t enough to meet all the needs,” Cullen said.

The county is working with providers so that no current appointments are canceled, but the news could lead to reduce hours at several vaccination sites.

Banner Health on will consolidate its vaccination center at the Banner North Cancer Center with its operation at the Banner-run center at Kino Sports Complex on March 4. No new appointments are being made at the Cancer Center. Capacity will increase at the Kino location when more vaccines are readily available.

The city of Tucson is also reducing the hours of operation at the Tucson Convention Center by one hour per day, moving to a daily schedule from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tucson Medical Center is limiting first-dose appointments to people 75 and older at this time as a result of the dose shortage.

Health officials are hopeful that these cuts are a temporary roadblock to the county's vaccination plan.

“We are getting reports daily that vaccine production is being ramped up nationally and increased supply is on the way. Plus, the approval of a new single-dose vaccine is imminent. So I expect these difficulties will be short-term and we’ll be able to rev-up our accelerated plan soon and get people protected from this terrible disease,” Cullen said.