COVID-19 Vaccine Status Update

01/11/2021


Banner is following national protocols
advising that frontline health care
workers receive the first
vaccinations against COVID-19.

The first shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Arizona and on Dec. 17, Banner Health began vaccinating health care workers in Maricopa and Pima counties. Banner is following national protocols advising that frontline health care workers receive the first vaccinations against COVID-19. Banner leaders are working with local health departments in each of the six states in which Banner operates to ensure our team members can receive both doses of the vaccine. Beginning Jan. 11, individuals who live in Maricopa County and are prioritized in Phase 1B are eligible to make an appointment to be vaccinated. Phase 1B includes:

  • K-12 school staff
  • Child care workers
  • Law enforcement and protective services
  • Adults age 75 and older

If you meet the Phase 1B description, follow these steps to make your vaccination appointment (you must have an appointment; walk-ins cannot be accommodated):

  • Step 1: Visit the public health web site for your county of residence. (See below for a list of links.) If your county has moved into Phase 1B, proceed following the instructions on the county website. If not, check back regularly for updates on when the next phase of vaccination will open.
  • Step 2: In Maricopa County, certain vaccination locations require you to first create an account on the Arizona Department of Health Services website so that you may use their scheduling tool. Click here for detailed instructions for creating your account. Other vaccine locations may use their own online scheduling tools.
  • Step 3: Schedule your appointment at the location of your choosing. Please note that many people are making appointments at the same time today, so vaccine slots can disappear quickly. Your web browser may direct you back to the list of available times just as you are finalizing your appointment in order to choose a new time slot.
  • Step 4: Get your vaccine on your confirmed appointment date and time. Be sure to bring the confirmation email with you on your appointment day, along with a form of ID confirming your Phase 1B employment, such as a work ID or paystub, or an ID that shows your age if you are over age 75.

    When receiving your first dose, you will be given a Vaccination Record Card with the type of vaccine you received as well as the date. Please make your appointment for your second dose as soon as possible. Your second dose should be scheduled for 21 days after your first dose if you received the Pfizer vaccine, and 28 days after your first dose if you receive the Moderna vaccine.

Stay Safe

Although the vaccine is here, we urge you to continue practicing safety measures such as masking, washing hands frequently, and keeping your social circle small until everyone is eligible to receive it. Thank you for remaining vigilant to keep yourself and those around you safe.

As supplies and vaccine options increase, Banner Health intends to offer patients the ability to schedule a vaccination. For more information on the rollout of the vaccine for each Arizona county, visit these links:

We will continue to keep our patients and the community updated on vaccine availability and access. Please regularly visit COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ on the Banner Health website and the Arizona Department of Health Services website for the latest information.

In the meantime, because Arizona’s COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are on the rise, we ask you to limit your social circle to your immediate household, wear a mask, stay home if you are ill, practice good hand hygiene, and follow all CDC recommendations to help slow the spread of the virus.