Arizona’s top public health official and community leaders talked with southwest Phoenix residents in an over-the-phone town hall on Wednesday, answering their questions and encouraging them to get vaccinated. 

More than 2.7 million Arizonans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but some communities disproportionately hit by the virus lag in vaccination rates.

“Providing COVID-19 vaccination to every Arizonan regardless of where people live, their color of skin or any other factor is our top priority,” said Dr. Cara Christ, who heads the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Christ said the department was holding “intensive community outreach efforts” in communities across the state.

Thousands of residents in Phoenix City Council districts 7 and 8, which includes the 85009 ZIP code, tuned into the townhall. State data on Thursday shows 25% of eligible residents in the 85009 ZIP code have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 

The state launched a pilot program last month in the 85009 ZIP code, with targeted outreach to vulnerable populations through trusted community partnerships, and is expanding that across districts 7 and 8 in the coming week. The efforts include knocking on doors to get people registered for vaccination, social media campaigns and lawn signs to spread the word and transportation assistance to those without vehicles.  

Pastor Warren Stewart of First Institutional Baptist Church in downtown Phoenix was among the community leaders who spoke at the town hall, saying every vaccination is a step closer to protecting the community, especially in Black and Latino communities that may be hesitant to receive the vaccine.

“God is a healer and God often uses medicine to heal people,” Stewart said. “We’ve heard it said it takes a whole village to raise a child. Well, in the case of COVID-19 it takes our entire community, especially our Black and brown brothers and sisters to get our COVID-19 vaccine shots to save our village.”

Hardest hit communities fall behind

Areas in council districts 7 and 8 where there are higher concentrations of low-income, underserved communities have vaccination rates that are far behind more affluent parts of the Valley.

While areas in District 7 such as Laveen are nearing 50% of residents with at least one dose, Maryvale has the lowest rate in the Valley at 24%, according to Maricopa County vaccination data.

No ZIP code in south Phoenix has breached 40% of eligible residents having at least one dose.

Christ answers questions 

About a dozen residents asked Christ questions in the hour-long town hall. Most were concerned about access to the vaccine, as well as its side-effects and safety. By the end of the town hall, there were many backlogged questions that would be followed up on.

Christ emphasized the safety of vaccines and said that mask use should continue to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets that can expose unvaccinated people to the virus. While there is a chance vaccinated people may become infected, the vaccine decreases the likelihood of hospitalization and death, she said.

“We know that the more people we can get vaccinated in the community, the less chance the virus has to get to somebody that will have a bad outcome,” she said. “What we’re trying to do is protect all around those individuals so the virus can’t get to them . . . Every single Arizonan that gets vaccinated protects our community.”

Christ said Arizona may be able to reach herd immunity by late summer or early fall as the supply of vaccines is greater than the beginning of the year and other services have become available to those seeking a shot. 

“We are starting to see that the demand for vaccine is actually being met by the supply,” Christ said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are effective for at least six months. It is not yet known if booster shots will be needed, but Christ said that by the time the first wave of vaccinated people could be eligible for a booster in the summer, the vaccine will likely be readily available.

Christ said those seeking a vaccine without an email address or internet access can call 844-542-8201 for help registering in English or Spanish. Those who are homebound may check with their counties to see if home vaccinations are available.

Christ spoke about concerns about the pause of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after reports of blood clotting. She said there’s only been six reported cases of clotting out of more than 7 million doses administered, and that the type of blood clot the vaccine caused is rare and typically associated with low platelets.

“It’s a very, very rare clot,” Christ said. “The CDC is just doing this out of an abundance of caution to make sure that the vaccine remains safe.”

Anyone who experiences severe headache, abdominal pain or shortness of breath after receiving the vaccine or any adverse reactions like anaphylactic shock should seek medical care immediately, she said.

Local leaders call on residents to get vaccinated

The Department of Health Services partnered with community leaders during the town hall to encourage residents in underserved communities to get the vaccine. Hesitancy as well as structural barriers like lack of transportation or internet have affected vaccination rates.

Pastor Stewart said the vaccine saves lives. 

“You’ve heard a lot recently about Black Lives Matter. Well, I want to tell my Black brothers and sisters, that we want to get as many black lives vaccinated because Black lives matter,” Stewart said. “And we want to do that same for our brown brothers and sisters.”

Others talked about their experiences with COVID-19 and said that a vaccine will keep friends and family safe. Mary Rose Wilcox, chairwoman of Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors, shared the story of a 95-year-old woman who brought her entire family to got vaccinated because she “didn’t want to lose any of them.”

“I’ve seen firsthand what COVID can do to people and it is not pretty, folks,” Wilcox said. “Our emergency room, our special floor we have for COVID patients, people get so sick. And the nurses and doctors who are in charge of acute care go through so many emotions taking care of people who have no family who can visit because of COVID, who are deathly sick and many who have died.”

Wilcox has participated in pop-up events to get people near Grant Park vaccinated. Valleywise Health, in partnership with Wesley Community Health Centers, vaccinated a total of 482 over four events in that area. The next event is May 15 at Grant Park, 701 S. 3rd Avenue. Walk-ups are welcome. 

District 7 Councilmember Yassamin Ansari, sworn in this week, encouraged residents to take advantage of the opportunity to get the vaccine because “so many countries don’t even have it.” She emphasized a need to overcome barriers preventing underserved communities in her district from accessing the vaccine.

“What we know with District 7 in particular is that there are many barriers so although one-third of Arizonans have been vaccinated certain ZIP codes, especially within these two districts in particular, are definitely lagging behind,” Ansari said. “There’s a need to overcome these barriers and make sure that residents from all corners from districts 7 and 8 are vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Ansari said vaccination is a priority for her and offered her email to constituents so she and her office can help connect them with resources. Her email is [email protected].

Megan Taros covers south Phoenix for The Arizona Republic. Have a tip? Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @megataros. Her coverage is supported by Report for America and a grant from the Vitalyst Health Foundation.

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