The state says health care workers are at the top of the priority list for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Arizona is expected to receive more than 383,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of the month. The state health department placed the order for the first shipment this weekend, and it is due to arrive next week.
Patience will be a key quality for people awaiting an end to the COVID-19 crisis even after vaccines are distributed.
University of Arizona immunobiologist Liz Connick says evaluating the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines will take time. But she notes that is no excuse for people to pass up vaccines and take a chance on developing antibodies.
"I think that taking the risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 and dying is not prudent," she said. "I would urge everyone just the opposite: Stay home and be as careful as possible so you can stay alive until you get the vaccine."
Connick says the first sign that vaccines are working will be a decrease in sickness among health care workers and nursing home residents. Pima County health officials expect vaccines for about 50,000 people to become available by the end of the month.
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