Courtesy photo.
Seven days after opening its own COVID-19 vaccination site located at Fort Tuthill County Park to individuals in Phase 1a, Coconino County is opening vaccination appointments at select sites to priority populations within Phase 1b.
Priority populations within Phase 1b include education and childcare workers, law enforcement and protective services, and individuals aged 75 and older.
Vaccination opportunities will open at a later time for other populations in Phase 1b, including essential workers and adults with high-risk conditions in congregate settings.
Definitions of priority populations within Phase 1b are:
- Education and childcare workers, teachers and staff. This includes all school and higher education staff who normally interact with other staff and students, and bus drivers, cafeteria workers, facilities staff etc.
- Law enforcement and protective services (corrections, other emergency response staff).
- Individuals aged 75 and older.
Individuals within Phase 1a including healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff continue to be eligible to receive vaccinations.
Vaccine supplies continue to be limited at this time and appointments are available on a first come first served basis at the Fort Tuthill vaccination site. Appointments are required.
There is no cost to receive the vaccine, however, individuals with insurance should bring their insurance card. No one will be turned away for lack of insurance.
Individuals without internet access and those age 75 years and older who require assistance with registration can call the COVID-19 Information Line at 928-679-7300.
Proof of eligibility within the Phase 1a and Phase 1b priority groups is required. Those seeking vaccination are asked to bring proof of occupation such as a paystub, employment badge, a letter from an employer, or a driver’s license or ID displaying date of birth. Those without proper eligibility identification may be turned away. The Fort Tuthill vaccination site is currently open to the defined eligible groups and is not open to the general public.
In addition to the Coconino County COVID-19 vaccination site, vaccines are available to select Phase 1 eligible individuals through COVID-19 vaccination partners. Coconino County is proud to partner with the following organizations: Banner Health Page Hospital, North Country HealthCare (NCHC), Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH). Additional vaccination partners will be added as available.
Visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine for information and registration links.
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended to help protect against COVID-19 infection. The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available require two doses, 21-28 days apart. The first dose starts building protection. The second dose, a few weeks later, is needed to get the best lasting protection the vaccine has to offer. Some side effects, such as redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, low grade fever, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle or joint pain, can occur following COVID-19 vaccination and are normal signs that your body is building protection.
Post-vaccination symptoms are usually mild to moderate in severity and occur within the first three days of vaccination and resolve within one to two days of onset. Symptoms are often more frequent and severe following the second dose and more common among younger persons compared to those 55 years and older.
None of the current COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and become ill since the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection. Individuals exhibiting symptoms following vaccination such as shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or loss of taste and smell may be infected with COVID-19 or another illness and should follow all current infection control recommendations including isolating at home to avoid spreading the illness to others.
Vaccinated individuals should continue to follow all current infection prevention and control recommendations to protect themselves and others from illness. It is important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop the spread of illness, like covering one’s mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, staying at least 6 feet away from others and staying home when sick.
The exact timeline of vaccine distribution among Phase 1 priority groups and Phase 2 and 3 remaining populations will depend on factors such as how many vaccine types have been approved, how many doses have been manufactured and allocated to Coconino County, how many individuals decide to get vaccinated, and other logistical factors. As more vaccine is available to more groups of people, more locations will open to provide vaccine.
For additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Coconino County, the phases of vaccine distribution and locations, please visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine.