TUCSON— Recently, the State of Arizona rejected FEMA’s efforts to set up mass vaccination sites in Pima County. The vaccination sites could bring up to an additional 300,000 vaccines to the county. After Pima County officials sent a letter to the White House requesting help to facilitate the site directly, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“As we’re rushing to vaccinate all Arizonans, it’s absurd that the State would reject an offer from the federal government to bring hundreds of thousands of doses to Southern Arizona. Arizona was a hotspot during multiple waves of the pandemic, and the State’s decision to not undertake every effort to vaccinate every Arizonan is a dereliction of duty and will only leave us more vulnerable to the virus.

“I’ve voiced my support to FEMA regarding Pima County’s efforts to get these federal resources so that we ensure that Pima County residents are vaccinated as quickly as possible. I will do everything possible to direct resources to my district despite roadblocks from the state. For the State to play politics with people’s lives after more than 16,000 of our friends, family members, and loved ones have died of the virus is beyond the pale.”

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