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Cochise County to prioritize flu clinics, refer COVID and RSV shots to pharmacies amid limited adult funding
Summary
County public‑health staff outlined funding limits for adult vaccine programs, said COVID and RSV vaccines will be directed to pharmacies this season, and described outreach plans and clinic schedules for influenza shots.
Tomany (clinical services staff for the Cochise County Health Department) reviewed the county’s vaccine funding streams, recent expenditures and how the department plans to allocate limited resources for the 2024–25 season.
Tomany told the board the county uses three funding sources: private billing (insurance), Section 317 adult public funding for ages 19–64, and the Vaccines for Children program for ages 0–18. She said last year three children’s clinics each used “over $50,000 worth of vaccines” and that countywide adult funding across five sites totaled $36,000 last year. She also reported that private funding yielded roughly $9,000 in collections against $7,000 in costs last year.
Distribution plan and services: Because adult public funding is constrained, Tomany said the department will continue to provide seasonal influenza clinics from October through December but will “really direct people to use their pharmacies for their COVID and their RSV vaccines this year.” She asked the board and staff to support prevention, education and resource distribution — including a county vaccine‑locations list and social‑media outreach — and described a vaccine equity team that will assist at public events.
She also described ongoing work to reach birthing hospitals and obstetric providers to encourage maternal RSV vaccination at 32–36 weeks, and said the department aims to have hospitals vaccinate newborns within five days where recommended by CDC/ACIP. Tomany summarized the county stance: “We're going to do prevention, education, and provide resources for the public to know where they're going to get their vaccines from.”
Local supply and next steps: Tomany said the county expects its formal 2024 financial allotment in October; she reported the health department will retain a small COVID supply for uninsured or underinsured adults and children. She said the department will post clinic dates, coordinate with pharmacies and continue outreach through the vaccine equity program.
Bottom line: County staff concluded limited adult public funding constrained county provision of the new COVID and RSV vaccines, prompting a plan to concentrate county resources on seasonal flu clinics and public education while directing most COVID/RSV demand to local pharmacies and partner clinics.
