FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 17, 2021

The Southern Nevada Health District is providing a weekly summary of COVID-19 data and new or updated information about COVID-19 clinics and resources.

Omicron Variant

The Southern Nevada Health District confirmed the state’s first reported case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant on December 14. The individual who tested positive is a fully vaccinated female in her mid-20s who did not receive a booster dose of the vaccine. The individual traveled out of the country during the incubation period. Upon return, she had symptoms consistent with COVID-19.  She is not hospitalized and is isolating. Part of the Health District’s investigation includes identifying contacts of the case and making the appropriate recommendations for testing and quarantine.

The Omicron variant will likely become the most common variant in the United States. COVID-19 vaccines remain the most effective measure to protect against serious illness and hospitalization and to reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. The Health District recommends everyone 5 years and older get fully vaccinated, and everyone 16 and older who is fully vaccinated gets a booster dose if they are eligible to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Report

The Southern Nevada Health District offers the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines as well as the J&J vaccine. We will continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines and recommendations regarding use of these vaccines, to include their most recent recommendation for the preferential use of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over the J&J vaccine and the continued use of the J&J vaccine in those for whom the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are not indicated or in those who prefer the J&J vaccine after being advised about any vaccine-associated risks.

COVID-19 Booster Doses:

The CDC recommends booster doses for everyone age 16 and older who completed their Pfizer two-dose series at least six months ago, everyone age 18 and older who completed their two-dose Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago, and everyone age 18 and older who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for booster doses for people age 16 and 17.

For those 18 and older, the booster dose can be the same vaccine originally received or a different vaccine. COVID-19 boosters are safe, effective and free.

COVID-19 Pediatric Doses

As of December 16, more than 22,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 11,000 have completed their vaccine series.

The Pfizer BioNTech pediatric vaccine is available at the Health District’s main public health center, 280 S. Decatur Blvd. and its community clinic sites. Health District and community partner clinic listings and appointment access is available at www.snhd.info/covid-vaccine. Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are accepted.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect children from getting COVID-19. Children may be at lower risk than adults of becoming seriously ill, but it is still possible. The vaccine is safe, effective and free.

Current Vaccine Update:

As of December 17, 2021:

• Total Doses Reported Administered 3,046,403

Total Doses Reported Initiated: 1,556,577

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 67.15%
  • 18 years and older: 81.17%
  • 5 years and older: 69.66%

• Total Doses Reported Completed: 1,280,598
• Overall: 55.24%
  • 18 years and older: 67.48%
  • 5 years and older: 57.01%

Additional vaccination information is available at www.snhd.info/covid-cases.

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of December 16, the Health District has received reports of 15,669 fully vaccinated individuals testing positive for COVID-19. In Clark County, the current number of cases of COVID-19 in people who are fully vaccinated represents 135.8 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of cases in unvaccinated is 2,888 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated. The Health District is reporting a total of 240 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 2 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of deaths among unvaccinated people is 53 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated.

The Health District’s COVID-19 breakthrough infection reports are available at: www.snhd.info/covid-breakthrough.

COVID-19 Cases

As of December 17, there have been 352,695 cases of COVID-19 reported in Clark County. The Health District is also reporting the seven-day moving average of new positive cases as of December 13 is 343.4. A total of 6,367 Clark County residents have died from COVID-19.

The number of cases COVID-19 among children age four and younger is 8,076 as of December 17. The number of cases in children between the ages of 5 and 11 is 18,045.

The Health District encourages people who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who have had contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 to get tested. Testing location information is available at www.snhd.info/covid-testing. Information on self-testing kits is available on the Health District website.

Variants

Variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 are tracked by the Health District, throughout the United States and globally by public health organizations.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and the most effective way to prevent the spread and slow the emergence of new variants is to get vaccinated, get a booster when eligible, wear a mask in public indoor settings, practice good hand hygiene, and for people to stay home and get tested if they are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had contact with a confirmed or suspected case.

More information about variants, including classifications and definitions, is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/index.html.

The CDC continues to learn about COVID-19 variants and reports them as follows: Variants Being Monitored (VBM), which may include variants previously designated as Variants of Interest (VOI) or Variants of Concern (VOC), and Variants of High Consequence (VOHC).

As of December 15, the Health District is reporting the following variants being monitored (VBM) in Clark County:

As of December 15, the Health District is reporting the following variants of concern (VOC) in Clark County:

In the past 30 days, the Health District identified the following variants in Clark County:

Clinic Locations

COVID-19 vaccine clinic hours at the Health District’s 280 S. Decatur Blvd. public health center are Monday and Friday, 6:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 6:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Expanded hours at the main public health center are Monday and Friday from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Holiday Hours

The Health District clinics will be closed Thursday, December 23; Friday, December 24; Saturday, December 25; Thursday, December 30; Friday, December 31; and Saturday, January 1, 2022.

Clinic information and additional resources are available on the Health District’s website at www.snhd.info/covid.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.