More Doctors’ Offices and Clinics Can Order COVID-19 Vaccine Starting May 3

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is advancing COVID-19 vaccine availability farther into communities by enabling eligible doctors’ offices and other neighborhood healthcare providers to order the Moderna vaccine.

This change, taking effect next week, will allow providers registered with ADHS to order vaccine directly from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without needing an allocation from a county health department. It applies to nearly 1,200 providers statewide that are set up to order vaccine through ADHS. While some providers may have already received a vaccine allocation from their local health departments, this change makes others eligible to receive vaccine for the first time.

“As we get more doses into the state, we are expanding the places where Arizonans can get the vaccine,” said ADHS Director Dr. Cara Christ. “From the beginning, we wanted to ensure Arizonans could receive the vaccine in locations they normally receive their health care ‒ including their primary care providers’ offices, clinics, and pharmacies. This will further reduce barriers and help more Arizonans access the vaccine.”

The Moderna vaccine is ideal for use in doctors’ offices and similar settings because of its less-stringent storage requirements and smaller lot sizes than the Pfizer vaccine.

Beginning Monday, May 3, each registered provider will be able to order up to 200 doses during a two-week period. Larger orders will be permitted for special events. Next week, more than 30,000 doses will be available to healthcare providers and clinics to order.

Not all healthcare providers will be eligible to order COVID-19 vaccine at this time. To order COVID-19 vaccine, providers need to register with ADHS as pandemic vaccine providers as required by the federal government. Providers interested in learning more or registering can visitazhealth.gov/VaccineProvider.