Q&A responds to Nevadans’ questions about coronavirus vaccines

QI’m 77 years old, a Las Vegas resident for the last 20 years, and need to get the vaccine as soon as possible, but cannot find when and where I can get it. Would you be kind and guide me? — S.A., Las Vegas

AS.A., you can represent here the countless Nevadans 75 or older who have contacted us about when, where and how they will get the COVID-19 vaccine. Some have read our reports about how Nevada has moved this age group to its second priority tier, Tier 2, for getting a shot.

Sadly, we still cannot provide the specific information that you are seeking. Not yet, anyway.

Representatives of the Southern Nevada Health District said Wednesday that they are on the brink of a mass vaccination campaign in Clark County. They plan to set up four or five points of dispensing, or PODs, at a time, each able to administer the vaccine to 1,000 or more people per day.

Health district officials said they are working with places where large groups of older residents live that could serve as possible sites for vaccination centers. Sun City Anthem, for example, has told its residents that it is working with the health district and pharmacy chains to possibly serve as a point of dispensing. Even Allegiant Stadium has been mentioned as a potential POD. No details yet on whether either of these will happen or when they might.

State officials have said they cannot commit to a particular timeline for vaccination of this age group, in part because allocations of vaccine from the federal government are fluctuating in amounts and dates of delivery. They spoke of the difficulty of scheduling vaccinations when they don’t know how much of the vaccine they will get until the week of delivery, particularly because of the storage and handling requirements.

Meanwhile, in Northern Nevada, the Washoe County Health District has said it does not have adequate amounts of the vaccine now to launch vaccinations there for the 75 and older age group. But this weekend, it planned to begin vaccinating teachers and school personnel who fall under Tier 2.

According to census data, there are more than 192,000 people 75 or older in the state, about 6.2 percent of the population. In Clark County alone, about 133,500 people are in this age group, or roughly 5.9 percent of the county’s population.

Public health officials say they will provide updates on distribution timelines when they have the details.

“We are committed to using every communication tool available when vaccine becomes more widespread and available in communities,” Candice McDaniel, a health bureau chief for the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, said during a Friday press call.

“I promise we will not be sitting on any updates about vaccine availability for seniors or the public in general,” Southern Nevada Health District spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said in an email.

We know this is not the answer you and other readers are looking for, but stay tuned.

More information on COVID-19 vaccines is available at snhd.info/covid and at nvcovidfighter.org.

Where to get tested

■ Beginning Jan. 11, the Texas Station COVID-19 testing site in the hotel’s parking garage will operate three days a week as what is being described as a “neighborhood strike team site.” It had been operating as a test site five days a week.

The Southern Nevada Health District calendar shows testing will occur Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The site will open at 8 a.m. and offer about 600 tests on a firstcome, first-served basis as supplies permit. Clark County and Nevada National Guard staff will continue supporting the operation, while the health district will oversee on-site registration, lab processing of samples, and the notifications of test results. The site will not take appointments or require insurance.

■ A COVID-19 test site at UNLV, located at 801 E. Flamingo Road, operates 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. It is closed Fridays and Saturdays.

Cashman Center provides testing in Exhibit Hall A at 850 N. Las Vegas Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Appointments at both sites are highly recommended to reduce wait times and maintain operational efficiency and can be self-scheduled through UMC’s website at

umcsn.com.

Those with no online access may call UMC at 702-383-2619 to schedule appointments.

Both sites accept some walk-ins each day on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows, but priority is given to those with appointments.

Also starting Jan. 11, the UNLV and Cashman Center sites will begin requesting insurance information during the registration process. There will continue to be no-outof-pocket costs to patients, including the uninsured.

Mary Hynes