Vaccine registration now open for priority groups in Pima County

Starting with the county's most vulnerable group, Tucson Medical Center and Banner - University medical center will begin distributing vaccines to seniors over the age of 75 Friday. TMC will offer both a drive-thru and in-hospital vaccination clinic and has the capacity to vaccinate about 2,000 people a day. 

Seniors who are eligible should register online at www.pima.gov/covid19vaccineregistration or call 520-594-5684. The phone line will be staffed starting 1 p.m. on Thursday. 

Other prioritized groups, such as law enforcement, corrections, firefighters, educators and childcare providers, can also register online and schedule vaccination appointments starting early next week.

The county will also open three additional vaccination sites next week, including the Kino Sports Complex, the Tucson Convention Center and the University of Arizona. While those 75 and older are being encouraged to get vaccinated at hospital based sites such as TMC and Banner, protective service groups are encouraged to get vaccinated at the TCC and educators are encouraged to use the UA vaccination center.

Over the next few weeks, the county also has plans to open two more distribution sites at Rillito Regional Park and in Green Valley. 

“Our emphasis at the beginning will be for those 85 and older, because we know that group has the highest mortality rate if infected with COVID-19,” said Dr. Francisco Garcia, Pima County’s Chief Medical Officer. “This is just the beginning of a robust county effort to vaccinate everyone in the county who wants to be. We appreciate everyone’s patience while we have worked through the enormous logistical complexities of standing up multiple vaccination sites capable of dispensing thousands of shots per day.”