OAKLAND, Calif. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sending two mobile vaccination units (MVUs), administrative staff and federal vaccinators to Pima County to support its distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to the hardest hit, hardest-to-reach communities with high risks of COVID-19 exposure and infection.
The operations, which will include more than 70 personnel from FEMA, Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Labor, will run through June 26.
MVUs will operate at two concurrent locations for three days before tearing down and moving to the next site. Locations were selected based on census tract data and the Social Vulnerability Index of the area.
From May 3 to May 5, two MVUs will be on-site from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at two Pima Community College campuses:
- Pima Community College Desert Vista, 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz, and
- Pima Community College West, 2202 W. Anklam Road
FEMA requires a day to tear down the units before moving to the next location. Some sites are still being finalized, but the initial rollout includes:
May 7-9, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road
- Desert Diamond Casino, 7350 S. Nogales Hwy.
May 11-13, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Greyhound Park, 2601 S. 3rd
- Wheeler Taft Library, 7800 N. Schisler Drive
May 15-17, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Rillito Race Track, 4502 N. 1st
- Curtis Park, 2110 W. Curtis Road
“We’re extremely grateful to FEMA for partnering with us on this effort to reach pockets of the community who may not have easy access to this life-saving vaccine,” said County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. “The ability to offer vaccines during evenings and weekends will enable us to reach folks whose work or school schedules prevent them from getting a vaccine now. With this effort, there’s truly no reason not to roll up your sleeve and get your shot so we can start putting this pandemic behind us.”
Both the Moderna (two dose) and Johnson & Johnson (single dose) vaccine will be available for walk-up registrants 18 and older on a first-come, first-served basis. Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccinators will return to each community 28 days after their first visit to provide the second dose. Each MVU will have the capacity to administer 250 vaccines per day, which could increase depending on demand.
“FEMA is proud to support Pima County’s efforts to improve access to and the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said FEMA Region 9 Acting Administrator Tammy Littrell. “MVUs meet people where they are, make the vaccination process quick and easy, and get us one step closer to ending this pandemic.”
MVUs will be staffed with pharmacists, pharmacy techs, vaccinators and vaccination preparers, as well as registration, screening and security personnel. Local EMS agencies will also be on-scene at each location in case of any rare, adverse reactions to the vaccine. Help will also be available to all who need assistance with mobility, language or other accommodations.
Vaccinations continue to be offered through several major vaccination centers, mobile pop-up clinics and pharmacies. Find the latest info at pima.gov/covid19vaccine.
Press availability:
- Media are invited to tour FEMA’s Mobile Vaccination Unit at Pima Community College’s Desert Vista campus, 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz, on Monday, May 3 at 9 a.m.
- Press conference with assorted Pima County and FEMA personnel, 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Kate Harrison, Pima County Communications, Kate.Harrison@pima.gov, 520-310-3668