LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Over the past nine months, the pandemic has forced many businesses to pivot. Advanced Aesthetics is no different.
"I'm an injector here so I do Botox, fillers, Sculptra, everything that comes out of a needle, I do it," said Bernie Blanks, a nurse practitioner at the medical spa on S. Rainbow Blvd.
Blanks said he'd like to be able to administer something else from a needle -- the COVID-19 vaccine.
"We wish we could get it for ourselves but also we would like to get the vaccine so that we can vaccinate other people," said Blanks.
Since July, Advanced Aesthetics has contracted with University Medical Center to be able to test for COVID-19 on site. And last month, they submitted paperwork to become a vaccine provider.
"On December the 22nd, I took that initiative. I filled that form out. It said thank you for applying. We'll get in touch with you if you qualify," said Frankie Day, a nurse practitioner.
Since then, Day has called and emailed and heard nothing.
On Monday, the vaccination roll out continued across the valley with
Henderson first responders and North Las Vegas firefighters receiving their first doses. Frontline healthcare workers at UMC began receiving their second dose. But the state's plan moving forward -- who's next, when, where, how -- remains largely unclear. That leaves people like owner Mary Sullivan, who want to help in any way they can, in limbo.
"COVID is personal for me," said Sullivan. "I lost my father on August 1st, he was 88, to COVID. I don't want to lose anyone else. Nor do I want any patient or friend or family to lose any family members either."
13 Action News reached out to the governor's office for a statement and received the following:
As of Jan. 3, 2021, 34,540 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and reported to NV WebIZ. These are all first doses of the two-dose series, and data on second doses will be provided as it becomes available. Counties and Local Health Authorities are working to vaccinate their Tier 1 populations and the information provided accounts for data updated in the NV WebIZ system. All doses will be added to the system, but there is a delay from when the vaccine is administered, until the data entry is complete.
Vaccine continues to roll out in Nevada communities statewide and the Nevada State Immunization Program is working with counties to order against the federally allocated cap of doses. The Program is also working to finalize the update to the third version of the State’s vaccine Playbook which will include Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations.
Nevadans are being vaccinated every day and we are working with partners and stakeholders to implement this monumental task. Nevada counties are vaccinating individuals in Tier 1 and some counties may be moving into Tier 2 soon. As this effort continues, counties may move throughout the Tiers at different paces, based on factors such as population size and vaccine demand within the Tier groups. Nevada’s plan was developed to accommodate these differences.
