FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 18, 2021

LAS VEGAS — Booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine are available at Southern Nevada Health District and community vaccination clinics for people who are eligible. Booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine have not been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not currently being administered at vaccination clinics. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are both expected to meet later this week. The FDA is meeting to decide authorization of boosters and the CDC will make final recommendations for administering the vaccines. The Health District will begin administering the vaccine in accordance with CDC recommendations once all steps at the federal, state and local levels have been completed.

Those who are eligible for a booster include people who have completed their two-dose series of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago and:

• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings,
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions,
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot based on their individual benefits and risks. A full list is available on the Health District website.

In addition to booster doses of Pfizer vaccine, additional doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine continue to be available for people who are immunocompromised and have completed the two-dose series of the vaccines. Appointments can be made for these additional doses at Health District clinics by selecting the “additional dose” option when making an appointment. For people in this group, an additional dose of the vaccine can be administered 28 days after their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Additional doses of the vaccine for the immunocompromised are not available for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC do not yet have enough data to make the same recommendations.

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.