FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 10, 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.

Adolescent Booster Doses

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has strengthened its booster dose recommendations to include people age 16 and 17 if they completed their initial Pfizer BioNTech vaccine series at least six months ago. The CDC now recommends booster doses for everyone age 16 and older.

Adolescent booster doses are available at Southern Nevada Health District clinics.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Report

COVID-19 Booster Doses:

Boosters are recommended for people age 16 and older who completed their Pfizer two-dose series at least six months ago, people age 18 and older who completed their two-dose Moderna vaccine series at least six months ago, and adults 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 adults, 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 9, more than 19,200 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose in Clark County.

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 10, 2021:

• Total Doses Reported Administered 2,986,710

Total Doses Reported Initiated: 1,541,084

• Percent initiated vaccination:
  • Overall: 66.48%
  • 18 years and older: 80.49%
  • 5 years and older: 68.95%
• Total Doses Reported Completed: 1,270,229
• Overall: 54.79%
  • 18 years and older: 67.12%
  • 5 years and older: 56.53%

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

COVID-19 after Vaccination

As of December 9, the Health District has received reports of 14,990 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 131.5 cases out of every 10,000 fully vaccinated people. The Health District is reporting a total of 231 deaths that have occurred in fully vaccinated Clark County residents. This represents 2 deaths per 10,000 fully vaccinated people. Among unvaccinated people, the number of cases of COVID-19 is 2,830 out of every 10,000 unvaccinated individuals and the number of deaths is 51.3 per 10,000 unvaccinated people.

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

COVID-19 Cases

As of December 10, there have been 349,093 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 6, is 389.7. A total of 6,308 Clark County residents have died from COVID-19.

The number of cases COVID-19 among children age four and younger is 7,951 as of December 9. The number of cases in children between the ages of 5 and 11 is 17,735.

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.

Omicron Variant

The Health District continues to conduct ongoing surveillance for variants. To date, no cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in Clark County.

Studies are underway to learn more about Omicron. Preliminary information indicates that no unusual symptoms are associated with the Omicron variant, and that people who are fully vaccinated are possibly less likely to experience serious illness or require hospitalization.

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

As of December 9, 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.

The Health District clinics will be closed 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.