Southern Nevada Health District to begin offering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years

The Southern Nevada Health District will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to children 6 months to 5 years of age beginning Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at its clinics. The Pfizer vaccine, a three-dose series, will be available at Health District clinics located at on the College of Southern Nevada’s West Charleston and North Las Vegas campuses, the Galleria at Sunset, the Boulevard Mall inside El Mercado, and at our clinic at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. The Moderna vaccine, a two-dose series, will be available at the Health District’s 280 S. Decatur clinic. More information about these locations in available at www.snhd.info/covid-vaccine.

The availability of the vaccines follows recommendations by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and authorization for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“We are pleased to finally be able to offer the COVID-19 vaccines to help protect our youngest residents,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, District Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “Families have made extraordinary sacrifices these past few years to protect their children and their most vulnerable members. The availability of the vaccines for younger children is another critical step in our ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our community,” said Dr. Leguen.

The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 4 years of age and is a three-dose series. The second dose is administered three weeks after the first dose. The third dose is administered at least eight weeks after the second dose. The Pfizer vaccine will be available at Health District COVID-19 vaccination clinics beginning Wednesday, June 22.

The Moderna vaccine is authorized for children ages 6 months to 5 years of age in a two-dose series, with the second dose administered after 28 days. The Moderna vaccine will become available in the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Health District's main location (280 S. Decatur Blvd.) beginning Wednesday, June 22.

As of June 13, the Health District is reporting 13,868 cases of COVID-19 in children under the age of 4 and three deaths. Many children who get COVID-19 will experience mild symptoms. However, some will experience more severe illness or develop long-term symptoms.

“I would encourage parents and guardians to bring their children in to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Dr. Cort Lohff, Chief Medical Officer for the Health District. “This is the time of year we start reminding the community about the importance of back-to-school immunizations, and this is one more step parents can take to help ensure their children have a healthier start to the school year,” said Dr. Lohff.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 591 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the U.S. since December 14, 2020. The vaccines underwent a rigorous process to ensure their safety and effectiveness and continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you

Clark County reaches high COVID-19 community level

Clark County has reached a high community level for COVID-19, and the Southern Nevada Health District is strongly recommending individuals wear masks when in public indoor places and they stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines. People who have symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should get tested, and people who are sick should stay home and isolated from others in their household. Those who are at higher risk for severe illness may need to take additional precautions. This can include having a plan for rapid testing if needed and talking to your health care provider about options for treatments with oral antivirals and monoclonal antibodies.

Health District launches online appointment system for immunization services

Making appointments for immunizations at a Southern Nevada Health District public health center is now more convenient with the launch of its new online system. Starting today, immunization clinic clients can make their own appointments online through the Patient Portal at https://vax4nv.nv.gov/patient/s for travel, flu, measles, rubella, pertussis, hepatitis A and B, and other routine vaccines offered at all four of the Health District’s immunization clinic locations. People who may not have online access or need additional assistance making appointments, may call (702) 759-0850.

The appointment system is the same one currently used to make appointments for COVID-19 vaccines. The Health District’s immunization clinics are open Monday through Friday. Walk-in immunization services may be accommodated based on availability at the 280 S. Decatur Blvd. public health center. Appointments are required at the East Las Vegas, Henderson, and Mesquite public health centers.

This year, Clark County School District’s school year begins on Monday, August 8, and the Health District is encouraging parents and guardians not to wait until the last minute to ensure their children are appropriately immunized. This new appointment system will make it easier for them to schedule their children’s appointments in advance and check vaccinations off their back-to-school to-do list. More information about school-required immunizations and Health District clinics is available at www.snhd.info/bts.