LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It’s time for seniors 70 years of age and older to “sign up now!” to make an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot.
The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) announced that seniors can now enroll on their website to get their first vaccine dose against the virus.
In a press release, SNHD said “Currently, a limited number of appointments are available on the Health District’s website. More dates and times are being added to the calendar to book a limited number of appointment time slots”.
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This is a start that many have been waiting for here in Southern Nevada.
One of them is 74-year-old Sharon Pickett, to her surprise, she and her husband were able to enroll for appointments next Thursday.
“I heard pros and cons about the vaccine but I’m really looking forward to it. I feel this is a really good thing, I don't want to get sick with COVID-19, and I want us to get back to normal. I feel this is the only way to do it, so I’m really excited, “ said Pickett.
Once she was on the website, she said the process was easy but it took some time.
“The only thing is that it took a while, it took me about 20 minutes or so. It was waiting for it to process your request, but there are still some spots open when I got in, but I got in really fast,“ she said.
SNHD knows that those slots are filling up fast and asked for everyone to have some patience. They say more slots will open up in the future, depending on the number of vaccine doses the county gets.
After several viewers pointed out that the website was not working this evening, SNHD said in a statement that “High demand is causing issues with the site. People should check back periodically. We are adding appointments as quickly as we can. We are stressing that as access is expanded, people will need to understand that not everyone will be able to get the first available appointments. We are committed to providing the vaccine to everyone who wants it, as quickly and as safely as we can”.
Locations like the Cashman Center, also known as a mega pod, will be opening their doors starting tomorrow.
“Please don't come to the health district, please don't come to UMC, if you don't have an appointment, please wait, because we won’t be ready for you,“ said Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick.
Health officials say that vaccines will only be available for people who live here, but that their immigration status won’t be asked.
As of Jan. 11, almost 29,000 vaccines have been reported administered to health care workers.
As more centers open up, the more vaccines health experts anticipate Nevadans will be able to get. The state says this includes pharmacies like Smith’s and Walgreens which will start offering them starting on Jan. 20.
More information about the COVID-19 vaccine available center locations and future steps will be given in the following days, but you can also find it at covid.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/ and register to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are eligible now.
