LAS VEGAS, NV –The Southern Nevada Health District will begin offering vaccine to all members of the priority groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Until now, adults with underlying health conditions, have been prevented from getting the vaccine in Clark County despite being a CDC priority group.

"I just didn't understand why we weren't included," says Carol Dodge, a 30-year post-liver transplant patient. 

The Southern Nevada Health District says they opted to sub-categorize the priority groups because of limited doses of vaccine.  They wanted to save the vaccine for those most at risk, namely pregnant women and children.

News of this expansion comes after the Nevada State Health Division, which oversees the H1N1 vaccination program across Nevada, questioned the local health district decision to limit some priority groups from receiving the vaccine. 

"We were already in the process of assessing whether we were going to make that transition to the expanded priority group," says Dr. Lawrence Sands, the chief health officer for the Southern Nevada Health District.  "It's kind of unfortunate that the state felt the need to send a letter like that."

As vaccine eligibility is expanded to include all priority groups, people will no longer be able to get the vaccine during regular health district hours.  They must attend designated clinics to receive the vaccine.  The health district will then assess vaccine supplies before scheduling additional clinics.

H1N1 clinics for the expanded list of priority groups begin Saturday, November 14 at two area high schools, with an additional clinic on Wednesday, November 18.

Clinic Locations:

November 14, 2009 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Foothill High School

800 College Drive

Henderson, NV 89015

Centennial High School

10200 Centennial Parkway

Las Vegas, NV 89149

November 18, 2009 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ravenholt Public Health Center

625 Shadow Lane

Las Vegas, NV 89106

The priority groups eligible for vaccine at the health district clinics will include:

• Pregnant women

• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age

• Health care and emergency medical services personnel

• Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old

• People ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.