Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Pool
Gov. Steve Sisolak discusses Nevadas recent COVID-19 figures during a press conference at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, in Las Vegas.
Published Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 | 12:54 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 | 6:10 p.m.
Nevada could have its first allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine as early as mid-December, Gov. Steve Sisolak said Wednesday.
It’s optimistic news in the fight against the pandemic, though the vaccine will not initially be widely available to all Nevadans. The first tier of the state’s vaccination plan prioritizes heath care workers, law enforcement and higher-risk populations.
Even with a vaccine on the horizon, Sisolak stressed to residents to not let their guard down in taking precautions against the virus.
“Federal officials have widely reported that we won’t see large-scale vaccination throughout America until the spring,” Sisolak said. “So, we need a bridge to get there. Here in Nevada, that bridge between today and the day we have large-scale vaccination must be built by all of us.”
Under the first tier’s provision of vaccinations to law enforcement, correctional facility staff will be included. Prisoners won't be vaccinated in the first round, officials said, as they do not leave the facility as staff does.
Sisolak said the size of the first batch of vaccines allocated to Nevada is not yet known, and the final allocation numbers will determine how long until the state can expand who can receive the vaccine.
Nevada is part of the COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which is independently reviewing the safety and efficacy of any FDA-approved vaccine. California, Oregon and Washington are also part of the group.
Sisolak said that the goal of joining the group is to give Nevadans “an additional layer of confidence” in a vaccine. The state does not get to choose between the vaccines developed by companies Pfizer and Moderna, which require different storage techniques.
Sisolak said the size of the first batch of vaccine allocated to Nevada is not yet known.
The Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to give emergency use authorization for two vaccines developed by drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna.
The vaccine could be available to everyone in the United States by June, Moncef Slaoui, the Trump administration’s vaccine chief, recently told the Washington Post.
Brian Labus, an epidemiologist at the UNLV School of Public Health, said 60% to 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated in order for society to return to some semblance of normal.
Misinformation about vaccines has been widespread for over a century, Labus said, noting that people choosing not to get vaccinated is a potential concern.
“You had the same problem with the smallpox vaccine … and so the antivax groups are nothing new. It’s misinformation that has been around for a very long time,” Labus said.
There is no plan to mandate vaccination, Sisolak said.
Nationwide, more than 13.8 million people in the United States have contracted coronavirus, leading to more than 272,000 deaths.
In Nevada, almost 157,000 people have tested positive, with 2,201 related deaths.The state has a 17.6% test positivity rate over the last 14 days.
Sisolak said current numbers do not yet show a spike associated with the Thanksgiving holiday and said those under 40 who attended a holiday gathering outside of their household should isolate and get tested.
“Most likely, you will not have symptoms. However, you are dangerous to others and you must isolate away from anyone at increased risk for severe disease and get tested immediately,” Sisolak said.
He also reiterated comments made during his last news conference in which he threatened stronger actions if the spike in cases does not begin to drop.
“If we do not begin to see a change in our trajectory, and if this crisis continues to get worse, we will be left in the unfortunate position of having to take stronger actions — something I have been desperately trying to avoid,” Sisolak said.
The governor’s announcement ended on a positive note, as, he said, the arrival of a vaccine has created a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Things are looking a lot better. Our numbers haven’t been great, I get that … but we have hope now, a vaccine is coming,” Sisolak said. “Within weeks, we will begin distributing and giving people needle sticks. That’s a positive thing — this has been done in record time.”
