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COVID-19 Vaccine - Distribution Phases

The timeline below shows the intended distribution phases for the COVID-19 vaccine as determined by the State of Arizona Department of Health. Pima County is in Phase 1B.1 a-d.1 of its updated Phase B plan (Published on Feb. 4). 

(tap/click timeline to see phase detail)

Phase 1

December 2020 - Spring 2021

1 A
1 B
1 C

Phase 2

Spring 2021 - Summer 2021

Phase 3

Summer 2021 - Beyond

Healthcare Worker & Healthcare Support Occupations

Emergency Medical Service Workers

Long-Term Care Facility Staff & Residents

Adults 75 and Older
Phase 1B.1.a

Protective Services Occupations
Phase 1B.1.b

Education & Childcare Workers
Phase 1B.1.c

Adults 75 & Older
Phase 1B.1.d.1

Adults 65 & Older
Phase 1B.1.d.2

Essential Services / Critical Industry Workers
Phase 1B.2.a

Adults with High-Risk Conditions in Congregate Settings
Phase 1B.2.b

Adults of Any Age with High-Risk Medical Conditions

Adults Living in Congregate Settings

Any Remaining Phase 1 Populations

Additional High-Risk / Critical Populations

General Population

Any Remaining Phase 1 or 2 Populations

General Population


Who is included in Phase 1B?

Registration is open in Pima County to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for people in the Phase 1B.1 a-d.1 priority groups including: 
Green highlight below indicates current group(s) that can register 

   Phase Description

Phase 1B.1 

PHASE 1B.1.a
People aged 75 years and older
  • People aged 75 years and older (due to the high risk of hospitalization, illness, and death from COVID‐19)
PHASE 1B.1.b
Prioritized Essential Workers
  • Protective service occupations (law enforcement, corrections, firefighters, and other emergency response staff, 911 call center staff and trainees in high-risk settings, court personnel
PHASE 1B.1.c
Teachers/Educators/Child Care Workers
  • Education and childcare providers (K12 and higher education teachers and staff, student teachers)
PHASE 1B.1.d.1
People aged 70 years and older
  • People aged 70 years and older (due to an elevated risk of hospitalization, illness, and death from COVID‐19)
PHASE 1B.1.d.2
People aged 65 years and older
  • People aged 65 years and older (effective Feb. 19) (due to an elevated risk of hospitalization, illness and death from COVID-19)

Phase 1B.2 

PHASE 1B.2.a
Essential Workers (based on CISA and EO 2020-12 definitions)
  • Power and utility workers
  • Food and agriculture related occupations (packaging and distribution workers, grocery, farmworkers, and restaurant workers)
  • Transportation and material moving occupations (public transportation providers, airlines, gas stations, auto shop workers, and other transportation network providers)
  • State and local government workers that provide critical services for continuity of government, such as food and agricultural workers, United States Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the educational sector not in the prioritized essential worker category
  • Other essential workers (e.g., business and financial services, supply chain for critical goods, social service workers, critical trades, etc.)
  • Veterinarians and veterinary staff
PHASE 1B.2.b
Teachers/Educators/Child Care Workers
  • Adults with high-risk medical conditions* living in shelters or other congregate living settings.
*The following conditions have been identified as high risk by the CDC: cancer; chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); Down syndrome; heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies; immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant; obesity (body mass index [bmi] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2) ; severe obesity (bmi ≥ 40 kg/m2) ; sickle cell disease; smoking; and type 2 diabetes mellitus.