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The Green Valley Fire District kicked off the second round of coronavirus vaccines for 3,000 residents Monday. While lines were moving along smoothly, GVFD Chief Chuck Wunder is concerned some people aren t showing up for appointments.
Robert Lewis Agar received a second vaccine dose at Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital earlier in March. Jorge Encinas | Green Valley News
As of Tuesday afternoon, GVFD, county contractors and local volunteers vaccinated more than 1,400 people with their second doses. But Wunder said vaccinators noticed quite a few appointments not showing up.
Officials say an increasing number of vaccinators should help address overall vaccine skepticism among some residents, but they also point to a need for further outreach in areas where vaccinations
Thatâs the experience of Makenzie Hirschinger, who lives in Fulton.Â
In-home caregiver and mother Makenzie Hirschinger feeds her 1-year-old son, Jensen, who has Down syndrome. Annabel Thorpe, KOMU 8 Reporter
Hirschinger is a mother to 9-year-old Ayden, 2-year-old Spencer, and 1-year-old Jensen. Spencer has cerebral palsy, which is a motor disability, and Jensen has Down syndrome, which means he has an additional chromosome that alters the course of his development.
Both of these medical complexities may put Jensen and Spencer at a high-risk for severe illness if they were to contract COVID-19, according to the Center for Disease Control. If they were adults, they would fall into the high-risk category currently being vaccinated in Missouri under Phase 1B - Tier 2.
The Pima County Health Department expects to hit 250,000 vaccines distributed by the week s end despite reductions and weather delays, but potential third vaccine not likely to boost tight supply.