Mayor Kate Gallego and members of the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a multi-million-dollar investment in new vaccinations and COVID-19 testing in response to the city’s and the nation’s sudden surge in cases of COVID-19. A total of $4.9 million will be used to expand the mobile vaccination/testing program, and to make at-home test kits available to city residents.
Today’s action builds on the Mayor’s commitment to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone, especially in underserved areas. Funding comes from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Strategic Plan Contingency Fund, and will increase frequency and availability for the mobile vans through June, as well as the purchase of test kits.
READ ALSO: COVID-19 on track to be leading cause of death in Arizona
“With the current spike in positive cases, Phoenix has prioritized this limited quantity of supplies for symptomatic or high-risk individuals and frontline workers,” said Mayor Gallego. “We encourage residents who have been exposed to a COVID positive individual, have attended a gathering, have recently traveled, or who are experiencing cold-like symptoms, to pick up a self-test or get tested at a mobile unit or any other testing site. Most importantly, get the vaccine, it saves lives.”
Phoenix will invest $3.5 million to expand vaccination and testing. The City of Phoenix has used vans to offer no-cost COVID-19 testing services since May 2020, and added vaccination services in September 2021. Across 447 mobile events, 184,000 tests and nearly 10,000 vaccinations have been administered. The city partners with Vincere Cancer Center and Premier Lab Solutions, and others, to provide mobile and onsite event vaccines and testing with no out-of-pocket costs.
An additional $1.4 million will fund distribution of at-home testing kits, which will be available on a first come, first served basis. A maximum of two kits will be available per household. City staff will begin work immediately to procure supplies, and more information on distribution will be available soon.
Find information on Phoenix COVID-19 mobile vaccination unit times and locations in your neighborhood online at Phoenix’s Mobile COVID-19 Testing updates.
Phoenix, Arizona is the fifth largest city in the United States. With a population of 1.7 million, it is also the fastest growing city in the nation. For more information about Phoenix and services available through the city, please visit phoenix.gov.
