MOHAVE COUNTY – Vaccine appointments a month ago were about as difficult to find as toilet paper was last spring. And the nation is once again increasing supply to overcome acute demand.
Department of Public Health Director Denise Burley told Mohave County supervisors Monday that 72,642 doses of COVID-19 have been administered in the county.
“In the coming weeks we may encounter a time when the supply of vaccine outweighs the demand,” Burley said. “We are seeing from other counties that this is already occurring.”
Burley told board members that it is now much easier for county residents to schedule an appointment and get vaccinated quite quickly. Now is the time, she said, for anyone interested and eligible to explore appointment opportunities before the county might scale back incoming vaccine allocations.
“We just simply cannot take on vaccine if our providers out in the community have enough and the demand isn’t there,” she said. “Anybody that’s considering getting a vaccination, please do so.”
Burley said it is not yet known if the loss of 15 million doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine through a manufacturing mishap will impact allocations in Arizona or Mohave County. She said the federal government is expanding COVID-19 dose allocations to retail pharmacies and that Walmart and Costco will be participating in some communities.
Burley said 220 people were vaccinated during a recent clinic in Chloride. She said staff is working through the logistics of scheduling another for Golden Shores.
Burley said the single shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine is favored for rural vaccination events because there’s no need to return for a second round.
Supervisors approved Burley’s request to scale back department COVID reports for the board and public starting next Monday. She said format changes and reduced reporting frequency will allow her department to begin shifting back closer to pre-pandemic operations.
Dave Hawkins