Appointments are no longer needed at state vaccine sites

Appointments are no longer needed at state-operated COVID-19 vaccine sites in Arizona, a significant shift in the vaccine rollout.

The state says it now has enough capacity and doses at its seven mass sites across the state to allow anyone to walk up and get their shot, although having a pre-scheduled appointment is still recommended because it makes the process faster. The sites include the University of Arizona in Tucson, Yuma Civic Center, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Gila River Arena in Glendale,

Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, WestWorld in Scottsdale and Dexcom in Mesa.

There are numerous other vaccine sites in communities at pharmacies, clinics and elsewhere, with many listed at azdhs.gov/FindVaccine.

State health director Dr. Cara Christ told The Arizona Republic Tuesday that the vaccine supply is starting to exceed demand.

“I would say that we’re starting to get more vaccine than we’ve got the ability to book appointments. It’s definitely now we’re at a point where anybody who wants to get vaccinated can get vaccinated, most likely same day,” she said.

State sites in Yuma and Tucson already have been offering walk-ins as their demand for appointments dropped significantly, Christ said. State health officials late last week started talking about allowing people without appointments to get vaccinated at the Phoenix-area sites, she said.

Of the about 74,000 appointments released Friday for this week at state sites, nearly 60,000 were still unbooked as of Monday morning.

“That’s concerning because we want people to all get vaccinated and are looking for ways now to reduce barriers,” Christ said.

Hours for the state sites are:

● Gila River Arena, Glendale, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. There are no vaccines when the Coyotes play home games, including this upcoming Friday and Saturday and next Monday and Wednesday.

● Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

● WestWorld, Scottsdale, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

● Dexcom, Mesa, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

● University of Arizona, Tucson, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

● Yuma Civic Center, Yuma, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

● Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.