FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 22, 2021

The Southern Nevada Health District is wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy Holiday! It is the season when people gather together, and the Health District wants everyone to enjoy their time with family and friends as safely as possible.

The most effective way people can keep their family and loved ones safe is to get a COVID-19 vaccine. People with signs and symptoms consistent with COVID should get tested and stay home. People who are not fully vaccinated should delay travel, and everyone eligible should get a booster dose. When possible, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces, and wear a mask in public indoor spaces.

If planning a get-together with family and friends, people who are not fully vaccinated should wear a well-fitted mask around those who are not yet eligible for vaccination, such as young children, or people who are more at risk for severe illness, including older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

COVID-19 testing is also recommended before joining indoor gatherings with individuals who do not live in the same household. Anyone who tests positive should not attend any indoor events to prevent spreading the virus to others.

In addition to getting fully vaccinated and testing, socially distancing and washing hands frequently with soap and water are important steps to staying safer and healthier this holiday season.

More holiday and travel tips are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Southern Nevada Health District COVID-19 Update

Following is the Southern Nevada Health District’s weekly summary of COVID-19 data and new or updated information about COVID-19 clinics and resources.

HRSA COVID-19 Testing Supply Program

The Southern Nevada Health District’s Southern Nevada Community Health Center will participate in the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ recently announced Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Testing Supply program. An initial order for more than 2,000 at-home self-test kits has been placed. Distribution plans are in development and the Health District will provide details when they are final.

Omicron Variant

The Southern Nevada Health District has received reports from the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory of additional cases of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant. To date, there is a total of nine confirmed cases in Clark County residents and its investigation will identify contacts and make appropriate recommendations for testing and quarantine.

The Omicron variant is circulating in the community and the Health District anticipates additional cases of Omicron variant to be identified by the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and the Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the Omicron variant has been identified in more than 70 percent of new cases in the United States during the past week.

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.

Variants of Concern are identified weekly in this report (see below).

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 CDC’s 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 21, more than 24,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County and more than 13,000 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 are 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 22, 2021:

• Total Doses Reported Administered 3,089,846

Total Vaccinations Reported Initiated: 1,568,544

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 67.66%
  • 18 years and older: 81.66%
  • 5 years and older: 70.22%
• Total Vaccinations Reported Completed: 1,286,964
  • Overall: 55.52%
  • 18 years and older: 67.72%
  • 5 years and older:57.30%

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

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of December 22, the Health District has received reports of 16,739 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 143.5 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people whereas the number of cases in unvaccinated is 2,943 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated. The Health District is reporting a total of 246 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 53.5 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 21, there have been 355,858 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 18 is 446.1. A total of 6,413 Clark County residents have died from COVID-19.

The number of cases COVID-19 among children age four and younger is 8,150 as of December 22. The number of cases in children between the ages of 5 and 11 is 18,225.

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

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.

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 22, the Health District is reporting the following variants being monitored (VBM) in Clark County:

As of December 22, 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 Southern Nevada 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.