When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available in Washoe County? Here’s what we know – Reno Gazette Journal

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, received his first dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. USA TODAY

This story is part of the Reno Gazette Journal's essential coronavirus coverage, and will be updated with the latest information available.Pleaseconsider subscribing to support our work.

Northern Nevada received its first doses of Pfizer'scoronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, with the first shotsadministered two days later. Since then, doses of a second vaccine by Moderna also have been administered locally. Like all states, Nevada has sorted its residents into tiers of eligibility for the vaccine and as of Dec. 31, only individuals in Tier 1 are eligible.

For now, there are no specificdates for when Tiers 2 through 4 will be eligible to receive the vaccine; the Washoe County Health District on Dec. 31 said Tier 2 vaccinations are expected to begin in late January.Washoe County Health District Officer Kevin Dick has said that individuals in Tier 4, the final tier, likely would begin receiving the vaccine by late spring or early summer.

Several factors will determine how quickly vaccines will become available for each tier, including how quickly the vaccines can be manufactured, how many prospective vaccines receive approval, and how many individuals in each tier choose to be vaccinated.

Details are still incomplete on the rollout procedure and timeline, but here's what we know now.

More: Nevada updates COVID-19 vaccination structure, moves 75 and older to Tier 2

Nevada submitted its distribution game plan and four-tier system to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Oct. 16, and released details to the public on Oct. 26. The plan prioritized health care workers, essential workers and those with health conditions ahead of healthy adults.

The structure underwent one significant change on Dec. 30, updating Tier 2 to include individuals 75 and older a move that opened the door to the possibility offurther updates to the tier structure as the vaccination program progresses.

The Washoe County Health District on Dec. 31 said that employers will be tasked with notifying employees on how to receive the vaccine once they're eligible.

For Tier 1 vaccinations, Nevada National Guard members are stationed at the entrance to vaccination locations to check identification and verify employment. It's unclear at this time how individuals will be asked to identify themselves as an employee in a Tier 2 or 3 profession.

More: Nevada updates COVID-19 vaccination structure, moves 75 and older to Tier 2

Here's how the tiers are comprised as of Dec. 31:

Tier 1 (173,000+individuals)

Tier 1 vaccinations have begun.

Tier 2 (270,000+individuals)

Tier 2 vaccinations are expected to begin in late January.

Tier 3 (estimated 2,150,000+ individuals)

Tier 3 vaccinations are expected to begin in early spring.

Tier 4 (all remaining adults)

Tier 4 vaccinations are expected to begin in late spring or early summer.

Children under 18 were notpart of the initial coronavirus vaccine trials for the Moderna vaccine, and children under 16 were not part of the Pfizer vaccine trials. One estimated date for approval of the vaccines for children is late 2021.

More: Washoe prepares to dispense vaccines for Tier 2, which now includes those 75 and older

There will be no charge for vaccinations, according to a Dec. 29 press release from Nevada Health Response. The cost will be paid through private insurance, Nevada Medicaid and/or the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.

It's important to note that, as of Dec. 31, there is no announced date to begin vaccination of individuals at Washoe Countypharmacies. Kevin Dick said Wednesday that 43 local pharmacies will participate in dispensing Tier 2 vaccines, but did not identify the pharmacies.

According to corporate websites, CVS,Rite Aid, Target and Walgreens have posted information on possible participation in vaccinations.

Brett McGinness is the engagement editor for the Reno Gazette Journal. He's also the writer of The Reno Memo a free newsletter about news in the Biggest Little City. Subscribe to the newsletter right here. Consider supporting the Reno Gazette Journal,too.

Read or Share this story: https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2020/12/31/when-covid-19-vaccine-available-northern-nevada-reno-washoe-county/4105073001/

Read more here:

When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available in Washoe County? Here's what we know - Reno Gazette Journal