As Arizona continues to report over 3,000 new coronavirus cases a day, it also continues to trail the national average in full vaccinations.

An Arizona Public Health Association report shows that over the past 18 months, COVID-19 has become the leading cause of death in Arizona. 

The Association’s director Will Humble says, compared to other states, Arizona is alone.  

"I thought maybe there would be another state that was in that pool with us: states where COVID-19 was the leading cause of death during the pandemic. But lo and behold Arizona is the only state," Humble said. 

States like Mississippi, which has a lower vaccination rate than Arizona, are not in the same boat. Humble says that’s because their heart-disease-related deaths are higher.