The Arizona National Guard is stepping in to help train qualified volunteers to support vaccination sites around the state. 

Colonel Tom Leeper, the commander of the Guard’s medical task force, says many of the volunteers have worked in the medical profession, but there are not enough.

“So what we do is we identify gaps in what our civilian partners are experiencing, and fill those gaps on to the best of our ability until we have some reinforcements that can come in, step back in and take over," Leeper said.

But Leeper says those gaps are widening and extra help is needed so the guard can redirect their services to smaller counties. 

Leeper says he hopes to exceed the state health department’s goal of vaccinating 3.5 million Arizonans.

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