[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON VACCINES AND ALL THINGS COVID.

ON CRONKITE NEWS WHY THOUSANDS OF ARIZONA REPUBLICANS ARE DROPPING THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION.

ALL OF THAT AND MORE AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO HORIZONTAL.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ANOTHER STATE-RUN COVID AK NATION SITE OPENED TODAY.

IT'S THE SECOND STADIUM SIGHT FOR VACCINATIONS.

THIS COMES AS THE NEW SINGLE SHOT VACCINE FROM JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS CLOSE TO GETTING EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION.

JOHNSON AND JOHNSON SAYS IT CAN MEET THE COMMITMENT BY JUNE.

THERE IS CONCERNS, THOUGH.

BUT DR. ANTHONY FAUCI SAYS GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IS THE BEST THING.

>> THERE IS A FACT THAT TERMINATES VEROLOGY, AND THAT IS THAT VIRUSES CANNOT MUTATE IF THEY DON'T REPLICATION.

IF YOU STOP THEM BY VACCINATING WIDELY, AND NOT GIVING THEM A OPEN PLAYING FIELD, YOU WILL NOT GET MUTATIONS.

>> ENCOURAING THERE.

AND NOW TEST KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT HOME.

>> THESE ARE OVER THE COUNTER SELF PERFORMED TEST KITS THAT DETECT COVID WITH 95% ACCURACY WITHIN 15 MINUTES.

>> WE SAW POSITIVE NUMBERS FROM TODAY'S REPORTS.

OUR WEEKLY AVERAGE IS THE LOWEST IT HAS BEEN SINCE EARLY DECEMBER, BUT WE STILL LEAD THE NATION IN CASES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN MET WITH A GROUP OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WHO OFFERED A COUNTERPROPOSAL TO HIS COVID RELIEF PLAN.

WHITE HOUSE IS STRESSING THAT THE PRESIDENT IS OPEN TO COMPROMISE BUT WILL NOT SIGN OFF ON A PLAN THAT FALLS SHORTS OF WHAT HE DEEMS ACCEPTABLE.

>>> HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY DECREASES, BUT THE STATE IS STILL THE NATION'S HOT SPOT FOR COVID-19 CASES.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH WILL HUMBLE.

WILL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN STRAIN HERE?

>> WE HAVEN'T CONFIRMED THAT IT IS HERE IN ARIZONA, BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED AT ALL IF IT IS HERE.

I WOULD BE SURPRISED ACTUALLY IF WE DON'T HAVE IT HERE IN ARIZONA.

THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES STILL COVER THE STRAIN.

NOT QUITE AS ROBUST, BUT IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THAT VARIANT, IT WILL COVER IT.

IT CAN STRICT THE VCCINES CAN STRICT IT IS LITTLE BIT.

THE UK VARIANT, IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, BUT IS COMPLETELY COVERED, FULLY JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER STRAINS OF THE VACCINE.

>> JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, JUST ABOUT READY TO GO HERE.

HOW SOON WILL IT BE ABLE, AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH VACCINES TO USE.

>> YES, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON IS ASKING FOR A REVIEW THIS.

I WOULD IF ANYTHING GOES WELL, WE COULD SEE IT BEING SHIPPED INTO ARIZONA IN MID FEBRUARY, AND THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC, BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINE, IT IS A REFRIGERATED VACCINE.

SO IT'S A GREAT NICHE PRODUCT TO FILL DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND PHARMACIES SO YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO GETTING PEOPLE TO THE VACCINE.

>> INDEED.

AND I'M HEARING BIG BUSINESSES, ONCE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE COMES OUT, THEY CAN HELP GET THE VACCINE OUT.

>> YES.

THE PFIZER VACCINE, IT HAS TO BE STORED AT VERY COOL TEMPERATURE.

AND THIS IS A NICE PRODUCT THAT WILL BE A WHOLE LOT MORE AVAILABLE.

AND WE CAN AVOID THIS COMPLICATED APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

>> LET'S SAY YOU GOT YOUR FIRST SHOT, BUT YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING YOUR SECOND SHOT, HOW WORRIED SHOULD YOU BE?

>> I KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY, SAYING I CAN'T FIND WHERE TO GET THE SECOND DOSE.

MY KNOWN PIECE OF ADVICE IS TO BE VIGILANT.

BUT RECOGNIZE EVEN AFTER THE FIRST DOSE, AFTER 12 DAYS, YOU HAVE GOT REALLY GOOD PRODUCTION AGAINST A BAD OUT COME.

AND YOU ARE VERY PROTECTED AGAINST HOSPITALIZATION AND OF COURSE, DIEING.

SO THAT FIRST DOSE PROVIDES GOOD PROTECTION, BUT OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET THAT FULL PROTECTION, AND THAT'S WHY I DID A BLOG POST ABOUT THIS.

WE WANT THE STATE TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER, SO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE GET THEIR SECOND OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE CASE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN, HOSPITALIZATIONS GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, SO THERE IS A DECENT, BUT WE'RE STILL NUMBER 1, NUMBER 2.

WHAT IS GOING HERE.

>> AT THE END OF NOVEMBER AND EARLY DECEMBER, THEY SAW THE MODELS, THEY SAW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THEY ELECTED NOT TO INTO INTERVENTIONS, NOW WHICH EAR AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY, AND WHAT ASU SAID WAS GOING TO HAPPEN DID HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHY JANUARY WAS SO LETHAL, DECEMBER TOO.

>> AND RETURN TO NORMAL, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

>> IF JOHNSON & JOHNSON GETS AUTHORIZES AND THE OTHER VACCINES GET AUTHORIZED, WE COULD HAVE A LOT MORE VACCINE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK WE COULD GET BACK TO NORMAL BY JULY.

IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED IN DOCTOR OFFICES, THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE ARE USED TO GOING TO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TAKE CARE.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" TIPS OF SENIORS TRYING TO GET COVID VACCINATIONS.

>>> MANY OLDER ARIZONAS, ARE FINDING DIFFICULT TO GET A COVID-19 VACCINATION.

WE LOOKED AT THAT FURTHER, WE SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OUT THERE?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A FEW CONCERNS WITH SENIORS GETTING ACCESS, FIRST OF THOSE WHO AREN'T AS COMPUTER LITERATE.

THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THE WEBSITE.

THERE IS A NUMBER DEDICATED WHERE SENIORS CAN CALL.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE ANOTHER CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE EVEN ELIGIBLE.

>> YEAH.

LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE CDC IS SAYING LOOK AT 65 AND OLDER.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MUCH HAPPEN ON THE COUNTY LEVEL YET BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CONCERNS.

A LOT OF COUNTIES ARE STICKING TO 75 AND UP TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS.

>> YEAH, THAT REGISTRATION CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT.

>> YEAH.

YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE WAITING HOURS ON END, AND IT'S A LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE.

IT IS A LOT OF LEARNING GOING ON, BUT THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

>> AND I WOULD IMAGINE TRANSPORTATION COULD BE AN ISSUE.

>> YEAH, ARE YOU GOING TO DRIVE 50 MILES AND WAIT IN LINE FOR HOURS AT THE STADIUM.

AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE HOME BOUND PEOPLE?

SO THERE IS A GROUP THAT IS RECOGNIZED THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

AND WE HAVE LOGISTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THAT.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT INFORMATION IN GENERAL.

GETTING THE WORD OUT.

YOU ARE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT A LOT OF SENIORS ARE NOT SURE THEY EVEN WANT THIS VACCINATION.

>> YEAH.

I WILL NOT TELL ANYONE THEY NEED TO INJECT SOMEBODY IN THEIR BODY IF THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE.

I GOT THROUGH EVERYTHING, AND I A LOT OF IT IS WORD OF MOUTH.

SOMEONE THAT YOU TRUST GETS THIS, AND GOES THROUGH, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO THROUGH WITH IT.

THAT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SEEN THE ABILITY -- JUST THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO GET THE VACCINE HAVE GONE UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> ARE THERE THINGS YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT THAT YOU WANT TO STOMP DOWN RIGHT NOW?

>> ALL THE TIME.

I DID GET THE VACCINE, AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WORRY ABOUT ARE THEY GOING TO ALTER THEIR DNA.

IT DOES NOT.

THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS.

BUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR IS THAT YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE MILD EFFECTS BRIEFLY FROM A VACCINE THAN THE POTENTIAL LONG-TERM EFFECTS FROM COVID.

HAVING A DAY OR TWO OF DISCOMFORT IS BETTER THAN HAVING COVID.

>> DOCTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MY PLEASURE.

FR >>> NEWS AND PRESS BRIEFINGS COMING OUT OF THE WHITE NOW INCLUDE A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER.

SHERRY, TAKE YOU SO MUCH FORJOINING US AND WELCOME TO CHELSEA AS WELL WHO WILL BE SIGNING FOR US DURING THE INTERVIEW.

WHICH MAKES SINCE.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE HAVING AN ASL INTERPRETER.

HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT IN >> IT IS HISTORICAL THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS PROVIDING FOR ALL OF THEIR BRIEFINGS, AND IN THE PAST HAS NEVER HAD ACCESS TO AN INTERPRETER.

BUT THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

AND THEY WON THAT CASE, SO IN NOVEMBER, THEY HAD -- THE WHITE HOUSE HAD THE FIRST ASL INTERPRETER BRIEFING.

BUT WHAT MAKES THIS SPECIAL TO US IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND?

A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY OR UNDERSTANDING?

>> IT MEANS WE'RE INCLUDED.

IT'S AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION TO ALL PEOPLE, EVERYONE PARTICIPATES AND -- EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AND ALWAYS, AS YOU KNOW, ASL IS A PRIMARY LANGUAGE FOR MANY OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE FIRST TIME I SAW THAT ON TV, IT WAS SO NICE, BECAUSE IT IS MY FIRST LANGUAGE.

WHAT A NICE FEELING.

>> I'M SURE IT WAS.

OBVIOUSLY FOR THE PANDEMIC YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION, BUT WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON THESE DAYS, AND YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE INFORMATION OUT THERE IN DIFFERENT PLATFORMS, AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE WHITE HOUSE SHOWING INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION TO ALL PEOPLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE NOT ASL PROFICIENT?

SHOULD THERE ALSO BE CAPTIONS INVOLVED?

>> TYPICALLY YOU WILL SEE CAP -- CAPTIONS IN ALL NEWS.

SO NOW WHAT WE SEE IS A INTERPRETER WITH THE CAPTIONS.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO PAY ATTENTION SO YOU ARE NOT MISSING INFORMATION, AND WATCHING AN INTERPRETER IS MUCH EASIER ON THE EYES.

THAT IS PART OF OUR LIVES, INCLUDING MYSELF.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

AND I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC ON THE DEAF AND HEAR OF HEARING, LIP READING IS VERY IMPORTANT, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WEARING A MASK THAT YOU CAN'T SEE OR READ THEIR LIPS.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A PANDEMIC, BUT IT ENHANCES THE ANXIETY, AND COMMUNICATION BARRIER, BUT WE ALL NEED TO BE PROTECTED AT THE SAME TIME.

>> YES, WE DO.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING COMMUNITY, WHAT IS IT?

>> REALLY, COMMUNICATION ACCESS.

RIGHT NOW THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE VACCINE.

THAT IS WHAT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT, AND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THE VACCINE, AND HOW YOU GET THE VACCINE, AND WHEN YOU GET THERE, WHAT TO EXPECT.

SO IT WOULD BE RELATED TO TELEHEALTH, THE VACCINE, AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS IS CRITICAL FOR US.

>> DEFINITELY.

THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE EFFORTS FOR CHARITIES.