Pima County Officials Call for Urgent Annual COVID and Flu Vaccinations

Pima County health officials are advising residents to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 as the infectious disease season approaches. Dr. Theresa Cullen, the county’s public health director, highlighted the risks associated with colder months when families gather indoors during the holidays.

“December and January are bad months for us,” said Cullen. She emphasized that vaccination is crucial to prevent COVID-19 infections, which can lead to long-term health issues like long COVID. “The best way to prevent long COVID is to not get COVID,” she reiterated.

Cullen anticipates that flu and COVID numbers will rise shortly after Thanksgiving, as family gatherings often coincide with increased transmission of illness. Current vaccination rates are lower than desired. Only 20 percent of Pima County residents have received a flu shot, down from 44 percent by the end of last year’s flu season. For COVID-19, approximately 7 percent of the population has gotten the updated vaccine.

According to Nikki Reck, a spokesperson for the county, the actual figure may be higher, as adult vaccinations are not consistently included in the Arizona State Immunization Information System. Cullen believes the low vaccination rates may be due to fatigue rather than opposition to vaccines, stating, “There’s no reason to be tired because it’s so easy to get a shot.”

Seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe complications from both COVID-19 and flu. Recent data show flu cases in Pima County are rising above the five-year average, while COVID-19 cases remain lower than previous years. For the week ending November 16, there were 147 confirmed flu cases, a 4 percent increase from the week prior, whereas COVID-19 cases rose by 13 percent, totaling 474—but this number represents a 75 percent decrease compared to the five-year average.

Since the season began on September 29, Pima County has documented 2,602 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 476 flu cases, and 15 instances of RSV. Cullen cautioned that these figures might underestimate the extent of infections, as many individuals no longer seek testing or report results.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive at least one dose of the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine. High-risk individuals may require more than one dose based on their healthcare provider’s advice.

Those who recently contracted COVID-19 should consult their doctor about when to receive the vaccine, with a general recommendation to wait three months after recovery. “If you are really high risk, then you may want to get it sooner,” Cullen advised.

New COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available for free at local pharmacies and through health insurance. Pima County is also offering free vaccines at its health clinics for uninsured or underinsured individuals, with walk-ins welcome but appointments recommended for convenience.

Additionally, the federal government is again mailing four free COVID test kits to households that request them. To order, visit covid.gov/tests. Pima County libraries have a limited supply of test kits, and the Abrams Public Health Center distributes tests on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.