Maisie Hunt, 13, holds her father’s hand as she gets vaccinated by Domonique Cubillo at the Las Vegas Convention Center Thursday, May 13, 2021. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for 12- to 15-year-olds.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 3:56 p.m.
Nearly 6,000 Nevada children in the newly eligible 12-15 age group have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in less than a week.
Nevada Health Response reported that 5,947 adolescents statewide had received their first dose of the vaccine as of Tuesday. That’s about 3 percent of the state’s population of those 12 to 15 years old.
Clark County started vaccinating children in that age group on Thursday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off May 12 on emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for younger children. It was previously authorized for those at least 16 years old and is the only vaccine approved for minors.
The Southern Nevada Health District will begin setting up vaccination clinics at neighborhood schools next month.
The school sites will also offer standard back-to-school vaccinations, said Health District Clinical Services Chief Joann Rupiper said.
At the same time, the Health District is phasing out clinics at the Las Vegas Convention Center on June 19 and Texas Station on June 21, district official Greg Cassell said.
The Convention Center and Texas Station are the district's biggest clinics. The Health District has been shifting its strategy to focus on smaller, targeted pop-up clinics over the past few weeks.
Private pharmacies are also providing vaccinations.
“From the Health District’s standpoint… we don’t care where you get it, just get it,” Cassell said.
