First Arizonans receive coronavirus vaccine Wednesday afternoon
Ducey discusses vaccine distribution and the surge in cases during live briefing
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Governor Doug Ducey toured a Phoenix vaccination site Wednesday, just hours before the first Arizonans received their coronavirus vaccines.
Ducey, and Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) chief Dr. Cara Christ, surveyed Banner Health's drive-through vaccine site at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. They then briefed the state on both the vaccine distribution process, and the status of the surge.
Watch Gov. Doug Ducey's full briefing here:
Later in the day, Dr. Christ and frontline workers received the first doses of the vaccine.
News of the vaccine's arrival and administration came on the same day Arizona tied the one-day record for coronavirus deaths. ADHS reported 108 deaths Wednesday, bringing the statewide death toll to more than 7,500.
In addition, health officials confirmed another 4,848 new cases of the virus. That raises the total number of Arizonans infected to more than 429,000.
92% of the state's hospital beds are now filled. That leaves only 8% available at a time when hospitalizations are on the rise.
