Over the next month, the City of Tempe will launch an all-out push to get more eligible people vaccinated against COVID-19 and protect the community.

COVID cases across the country —particularly those linked to the highly contagious Delta variant – are increasing and unvaccinated people are at highest risk of hospitalization and death. Tempe wants to focus outreach and vaccination efforts on local areas with low vaccination rates, so the city is rallying with many community partners to host several free rapid testing and vaccination clinics in the coming weeks.


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“Don’t wait. Get the Covid-19 vaccine now and curb your risk,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. “Let’s take this simple step to protect each other and our community.”

A recent survey showed that Tempe residents who had not yet been vaccinated wanted more information to help them make their choice as well as evening and weekend vaccine opportunities. Since the 85281 zip code has typically experienced the highest rates of COVID-19 and the lowest rates of vaccination in Tempe, the current effort will be focused there. An emphasis will be placed on reaching younger people and our Hispanic community.

Tempe has already mailed postcards to thousands of people in 85281, placed yard signs with vaccination information in 16 parks in the zip code, at fire stations and on digital marquees.

The redoubled outreach efforts and the new clinics start this Tuesday, Aug. 17. At 2 p.m., the City of Tempe will host Vaccine 411, an informational hour designed to answer question about the COVID-19 vaccine, testing, research and more. The city’s first pop-up vaccination and testing clinic takes place just an hour after the program ends – 4 p.m. at Jaycee Park, 805 W. Fifth St. This event, hosted with Aris, will focus on vaccinating people who are homeless, but everyone is welcome.

More events are scheduled this month, see a listing below. Free rapid testing with 15 minute results is available at all events except the Mountain Park Health event on Aug. 23.

The timing of this effort is important. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that states with a lower than 50% vaccination rate experience significantly higher numbers of COVID-19 cases – sometimes double that of states that have 70% vaccination rates. As of Aug. 13, Arizona had a 46% fully-vaccinated rate and 53.6% of Arizonans had received one dose. About 57% of Tempe’s eligible population has received one dose of the vaccine with about 52% being fully vaccinated.

Another significant factor is the increasing dominance of the Delta variant in Arizona. The Delta variant is spreading most widely among younger, unvaccinated people. Tempe’s 85281 is the city’s youngest zip code.

Tempe makes decisions on how to best reduce COVID-19 in the community through metrics that can be found on tempe.gov/indicators. These include COVID-19 cases, tests that are positive for COVID-19, EMS calls for suspected COVID-19, wastewater data and also vaccination rates.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Rapid Testing Events

Tuesday, Aug. 17

4 – 6 p.m.         

Jaycee Park

805 W. 5th St.

Johnson & Johnson

Must be age 18+

 

Monday, Aug. 23

5 – 8 p.m.         

Mountain Park Health

1840 E. Broadway Road

Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer

Must be age 12+

No rapid test available

 

Friday, Aug. 27

7:30 – 10:30 a.m.            

Tempe Community Action Agency

2146 E. Apache Blvd.

Johnson & Johnson

Must be age 18+

 

Saturday, Aug. 28

5 – 8 p.m.

Park after Dark

6th Street Park on Mill and 6th Street

Johnson & Johnson

Must be age 18+

 

Tuesday, Aug. 31

4 – 6:30 p.m.

Tempe Community Action Agency

2146 E. Apache Blvd.

Johnson & Johnson

Must be age 18+

No registration is required. No insurance needed.

Free Rapid COVID-19 testing and vaccinations are available at all events except Mountain Park Health on Aug. 23.

Watch Vaccine 411

Join city experts live online at tempe.gov/Tempe11 or on Facebook.com/CityofTempe for a one-hour program about the science behind the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Joshua LaBaer, Executive Director of ASU Biodesign Institute, will join Asst. Chief Andrea Glass and Deputy Chief Nick Ells, who leads Tempe’s vaccine outreach, for this discussion. Details: tempe.gov/Vaccine411