Nevada reflects on first year of COVID-19 vaccination efforts

CARSON CITY — Tuesday, Dec. 14 marks one year since the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Nevada. From the first allocation of 17,550 doses of Pfizer vaccine through today, more than half of eligible Nevadans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I am continually grateful and thankful for Nevada’s public health professionals who have continued to work nonstop throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to care for Nevadans. The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out continues to be a historic and monumental effort and that wouldn’t be possible without the medical community and those working on the frontlines as vaccinators,” said Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak. “The work is tremendous but is nowhere near done – we are continuing to use every tool at our disposal to reach Nevadans and make sure they have access to their first dose, second dose or a booster dose.”

Nevada’s COVID-19 vaccination response has required partnership among all levels of government, community organizations and individuals looking to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19.

This monumental task began for the Nevada State Immunization Program and Local Health Authorities before the first doses of vaccine were received in the state and has continued with each announcement of new vaccine presentations, expanded eligibility and booster doses.

Throughout the past year communities statewide, local governments, organizations and the State have developed plans and ideas to ensure the vaccine was available when and where it was needed. Some highlights from the year include:

Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup: In October 2020, before the vaccine was available to states, Nevada joined with California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado as the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup to independently review the safety and efficacy of any vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for distribution. Since the Workgroup formed, they have reviewed each decision issued by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide feedback and input to support safe and effective vaccination for residents.

Vaccine Playbook: The first version of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Playbook was released in October 2020 in anticipation of the vaccine being sent to states, and the Playbook has been updated as changes have been made regarding eligibility and vaccine availability. Nevada’s Playbook for Statewide Operations was a Nevada-specific plan crafted with input from each county, recognizing the state’s diverse geography, economy and populations. The document has been updated as the response has progressed to provide additional guidance and detail about priority populations and vaccine eligibility.

Vax Nevada Days: This effort was announced in June and led by Immunize Nevada with support from the Nevada Governor’s Office and Nevada State Immunization Program. Through the eight-week award period, 440,988 vaccines were administered to Nevadans, following a declining rate of vaccinations experienced in the month of June. The effort included eight weeks of prize drawings, with the announcement of a grand prize $1 million winner. Incentives included cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $1 million and secondary education savings accounts for post-secondary education from $5,000 to $50,000. Additionally, more than 1,000 fishing licenses and nearly 500 Nevada State Park entrance permits were awarded to eligible residents. In total, 2,000 winners were randomly selected from all Nevadans who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, no matter when their vaccine process was initiated.

Get Out the Vaccine: In July, Nevada became the first state to partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “surge teams” offered by the federal government to assist the State in COVID-19 vaccination and outreach efforts. These teams targeted zip codes in Southern Nevada with low rates of vaccination and high rates of infection. Leveraging partnerships with community organizations, like Immunize Nevada and Mi Familia Vota, teams developed direct and targeted outreach in those zip codes. Teams canvassed 22 zip codes, supported more than 436 outreach and vaccination events and distributed almost 350,000 materials in the Las Vegas Valley.

Throughout Nevada’s COVID-19 vaccination response, the goal has remained to ensure vaccine is available for all eligible Nevadans when and where they would like to be vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots offer the best protection against COVID-19. State health officials remind Nevadans that everyone ages 5 years and older should get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine approved for their age group.

Additionally, Nevadans ages 16 years and older are urged to get their booster dose when they are eligible (6 months after receiving their Pfizer or Moderna shots, or 2 months after receiving their Johnson & Johnson shot).

For more information on vaccination go to NVCOVIDFighter.org or call 800-401-0946.