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Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak speaks during a press conference Monday, Oct. 26, 2020.
Published Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 | 9:50 a.m.
Updated Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 | 6:01 p.m.
Heath care workers and higher-risk populations will be among the prioritized groups to receive the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nevada.
While the Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve a vaccine, multiple companies are in varied stages of development, and states are prepping for an eventual distribution.
“We want to ensure that upon approval (of a vaccine), Nevada has a system in place for the distribution and administration of a safe vaccine as a supply becomes available,” Gov. Steve Sisolak said.
Candice McDaniel, the bureau chief of the Bureau of Child, Family, and Community Wellness’ Division of Public and Behavioral Health, said the initial number of vaccines available will likely be small.
Officials detailed the three phases of the state’s vaccination plan, starting with the initial phase in which the limited supply would be for health care workers, people at an increased risk of illness, residents over age 65 and essential workers.
The second phase will further support expanding vaccinations among these groups, while the third phase will focus on expanding vaccination efforts across other populations.
The state also plans to promote getting a vaccine.
“We know vaccine hesitancy is in the news a lot and people have concerns, but we can be confident a vaccine will not be released if it has not been deemed safe and effective by the FDA,” said Shannon Bennett, the immunization program manager of DHHS’ Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
Nevada submitted the vaccination plan to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Oct. 16, and McDaniel called it a “living document.”
“We will add to it and adjust as more is known,” McDaniel said. “The plan is like a frame of a house, and it sets the structure, but now we need to furnish it and attend to the details.”
In May, the federal government initiated a public-private partnership dubbed Operation Warp Speed to speed up the development of a vaccine. Under this plan, companies are mass producing multiple vaccines so a distribution pool will be available quickly if one of the vaccines passes human trials.
According to The New York Times, there are 48 potential vaccines being tested, with 11 in large-scale efficiency trails — one of the last steps in development — and six approved for limited or early use. CDC Director Robert Redfield told the U.S. Senate in September that a large-scale rollout of a vaccine would likely not happen until summer or fall 2021.
“We are committed to equitable distribution of a safe vaccine following directives based on science,” Bennett said.
