Arizona Expands Access to COVID-19 Vaccine

Strategic Insights -

Arizona residents aged 6 months and older are now eligible to receive the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine without an individualized prescription. This expansion follows a standing order issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), which serves as a prescription for pharmacists and healthcare providers to administer the vaccine. The move comes after Governor Katie Hobbs signed an Executive Order directing ADHS to make the updated COVID-19 vaccine broadly accessible. The health and safety of Arizonans are Governor Hobbs' top priority, and she aims to secure their healthcare freedom by expanding access to vaccines.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has issued a standing order to ensure access to the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for all Arizonans aged 6 months and older.
  • The standing order serves as a prescription for pharmacists and healthcare providers to administer the vaccine to anyone who wants to receive it.
  • The eligibility expansion was implemented after Governor Katie Hobbs signed an Executive Order directing ADHS to make the updated COVID-19 vaccine broadly accessible.
  • The health and safety of Arizonans are Governor Hobbs' top priority, and she aims to secure their healthcare freedom by expanding access to vaccines.
  • ADHS Public Health Medical Advisor Dr. Richard Carmona emphasized the importance of vaccines in protecting communities, preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and reducing the spread of disease.
  • The standing order does not guarantee that all pharmacies will offer vaccinations under the standing order or that insurances will cover vaccine administration costs.
  • Children aged 6 months to 6 years will receive the vaccine through healthcare providers, not pharmacies.

Statistics:

  • The COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
  • 6,158,417 Arizona residents accessed the COVID-19 vaccine as of March 29, 2025, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services (Source: [1])
  • The ADHS standing order expands eligibility to anyone aged 6 years or older, allowing 7,743,754 individuals in Arizona to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: [2])
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use in the United States since December 11, 2020. (Source: [3])

Sources:

  • [Source 1] - The office of the Governor of Arizona
  • [Source 2] - Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
  • [Source 3] - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)