Photos: COVID-19 vaccinations in Tucson, Pima County

K-12 education news from Tucson and Southern Arizona. 

In Pima County adults over the age of 65 make up 80% of COVID-19 related deaths and 41% of hospitalizations. Of the 1,422 deaths here, about 25% have been residents of long-term care facilities.

Lawmakers took the first steps Monday to trim the powers of Arizona's governor to enact and enforce unlimited emergency orders. At issue: pandemic restrictions set by Gov. Doug Ducey.

The spread of locations could make it easier for seniors who face transportation issues to get vaccinated closer to home, Pima County says.

Male, 22, accused of killing another man who lived in the same apartment unit.

The UA-developed method doesn’t need a suite of laboratory equipment, and is smaller and cheaper than current tests

Nearly 6,000 people have been vaccinated at the Tucson campus and 810 vaccinations were handled there Saturday, UA President Robert C. Robbins said Monday.

There are currently 11 local grocery stores and pharmacies — Fry’s and Safeway — in Pima County offering vaccines.

Pima County will receive only 17,850 doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week instead of the 29,850 doses it has been averaging each week from the state.

With only about 130 appointments scheduled in the computer system on both Wednesday and Thursday, the Tucson Convention Center vaccination site opened up to walk-ups for certain otherwise ineligible age groups. But county officials say they're working to stop that situation.

People ages 70 to 74 can start registering today (Thursday, Feb. 4) for COVID-19 vaccination appointments beginning on Monday, Feb. 8 in Pima County. Those 75 and older have already been eligible.

Bookmark this story for updates on COVID-19 vaccines in Tucson, Arizona and Pima County. 

Arizona will need to distribute vaccines faster as new, more contagious coronavirus variants establish a foothold. If the state falls behind, the new variants will push herd immunity further from reach.   

More than 160,000 Pima County residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine so far.

Tucson's large El Rio health network invited patients who are not in categories approved by Pima County to schedule appointments and receive the vaccine. 

The partnership could help vaccinations at the campus jump from about 1,000 to about 6,000 people a day.

Citing the unusual circumstances of the pandemic, a legislative panel voted Thursday to provide some protections from lawsuits for medical professionals and business operators.

Together, let's spread the word about our favorite places to eat in hopes of sending new business their way.

Pima County will severely reduce the number of people who can receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, due to vaccine rationing by the state.

County officials think some people are making obvious mistakes in their registration attempts on purpose, in the mistaken belief it will bring immediate attention to their online forms. Instead, it results in registrations being rejected.

In Pima County, 40% of those who have had first dose are white, 14% Hispanic, 1% Black.

With more than 22,000 Tucson Water customers in some stage of delinquency on their bills, service shutoffs will resume in March.

Arizona likely won't stop the new, more contagious coronavirus variants from taking over, but the vaccine may protect hospitals from being overwhelmed with severely sick COVID-19 patients again.  

Pima County residents 65-69 will be offered pre-registration spots for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Feb. 18, but when appointments will be scheduled depends on vaccine availability.

Arizona health officials indicate that won't cover the $10.7 million that has come directly from Pima County's budget for the test sites since Jan. 1.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry is asking the Board of Supervisors to suspend COVID-19 testing starting Monday after he says state officials indicated they do not intend to reimburse the county for nearly $11 million in testing costs.

Pima County health officials are canceling 2,100 COVID-19 shot appointments that were set for Friday, Feb. 19, and may have to cancel more next week as frigid weather elsewhere delays vaccine shipments. 

About 450 second doses, or 9% of those scheduled, will still be postponed and no new appointments for first doses are being taken at this time. 

People with appointments scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 will receive an email about canceled appointments. Additionally, two mobile vaccine projects planned for Saturday, Feb. 20 have been postponed.

Pima County will receive 17,100 vaccines next week in addition to approximately 16,300 vaccines that were delayed this week due to weather.

As the effort to vaccinate Tucson educators progresses, Pima County pulls back on telling schools whether to offer in-person or remote learning.

New first-shot appointments will start to open up soon, but first the focus is on getting second doses completed.

Cases are falling and hospital occupancy is improving in Arizona, but another wave of cases is still a possibility. 

“It’s wonderful to be involved in your community, and to connect with people who feel the same,” says Dana Smith, a retired nurse practitioner.

Getting a leg up on everyone else in his age group, Gov. Doug Ducey got his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday. But his press aide insists he wasn't jumping the line.

Also, Pima County's front-line essential workers who are aged 55 and older are asked to get their COVID-19 vaccinations at the state's University of Arizona site. 

State-run vaccination sites in Pima, Maricopa and Yuma counties will open to those 16 and older beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, officials said on Monday.

Pima County is offering walk-up, on-site registration for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. Vaccinatio…

While COVID-19 case counts are down from their winter highs in a big way, a higher percentage of people with COVID-19 in Pima County have recently reported attending an event, restaurant or bar.

While the Johnson & Johnson pause won't cause a shortage of vaccines in the Tucson area, a higher percentage of the J&J vaccines went to neighborhoods with more social vulnerability, data show.

White people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at a higher rate per capita than any other racial or ethic group in Arizona. More of them qualified for the vaccine from the start. 

Daily life is returning a bit to normal for residents of senior communities, assisted living and memory care, independent living and skilled nursing care facilities because of vaccinations. 

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act sick leave expired on Dec. 31, leaving school districts to decide whether they can afford to cover COVID-19 sick leave.

K-12 education news from Tucson and Southern Arizona.

St. Mark’s Preschool and Kindergarten is closing after 54 years in Tucson, but a group of parents are working to form a nonprofit and save the school if they can.

With the roll-out slower than expected and a surge in COVID-19 cases, many local school districts are pushing back their return to in-person learning.

The Tucson Convention Center site has been troubled by low registration numbers and hasn't wanted to waste any COVID-19 vaccine doses. 

But that doesn't apply everywhere just yet — including not yet in Pima County, which must meet certain COVID-19 inoculation thresholds before opening up to the 55-64 age group.

The COVID-19 vaccination appointments will be available for the week of March 22-28 for people 55 and older.

The first nearly 60,000 vaccine appointments at state run sites — including the University of Arizona in Tucson — are opening Wednesday morning, and are likely to be filled quickly.