Ducey gets COVID-19 vaccine ahead of others in age group

Gov. Doug Ducey received a COVID-19 vaccine at State Farm Stadium early Tuesday, a few hours before other Arizonans in his age group could register for appointments there.

Arizona officials on Monday had announced they would open slots at two state-run vaccination to anyone 55 years of age and older at noon on Tuesday, for visits starting Thursday.

Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ administered the Pfizer vaccine to 56-year-old Ducey at about 9:30 a.m.

Unlike other elected officials who invited media to watch them get vaccinated in an effort to assuage fears about the vaccine’s safety, Ducey’s office did not inform news outlets he would get his shot on Tuesday.

The public was alerted after an ABC15 crew on site to cover the new expansion in eligibility saw Ducey arrive and captured his visit on video from across the street.

A half an hour later, the governor posted photos of himself receiving the vaccine, saying he was “glad to join the 1.2 million Arizonans” who’d already been vaccinated.

“Arizonans age 55 and up are now eligible to receive the vaccine,” he wrote. “The more of us who get it, the faster chance we have at beating #COVID19 and getting back to normalcy.”

His office later posted an edited video of the governor’s vaccine ex

Timing irks constituents waiting their turn for shots

The governor had repeatedly told the public the shots were safe and effective in the months since Arizona began administering vaccinations, calling the vaccines a “modern miracle.”

He said he would have his sleeve rolled up as soon as it was his turn or there was enough availability but stressed he would “certainly never jump the line.”

When footage of him receiving the vaccine emerged Tuesday, though, some constituents said he did just that.

“The rest of us can’t even schedule until NOON — thought he wasn’t going to jump the line?” one wrote in response to an ABC15 reporter who’d posted the clip.

“That is nice. I am 68 years old with cancer, but I live in southern AZ and so I still have not gotten a vaccination! Once again the privileged get theirs first!” wrote another.

The Republican governor also drew criticism for getting the vaccine without giving the media an opportunity to observe and ask questions.

While Ducey has done several oneon-one interviews in recent months, he has not delivered a public health briefing since mid-December.

Since that last press conference, the number of known COVID-19 deaths has more than doubled in Arizona, from 7,530 to more than 16,000.