COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ

Currently, there are three vaccines authorized for use and available in Southern Nevada. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are a two-dose series. If you receive either of these vaccines, you will need to receive the second dose three to four weeks after your first dose, depending on the vaccine product you received. If you receive the Janssen vaccine you will only need one dose of the vaccine. All three vaccines are safe and highly effective.

Yes. Wearing a mask is still recommended during the pandemic. We do know that the vaccine has been shown to protect the people who receive it; however, we do not have enough information to know if it protects those who haven’t been vaccinated. It is important to continue to wear a mask.

that covers your nose and mouth when in contact with others outside your household, when you are in a health care facility, and when receiving any vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information at Considerations for Wearing Masks.

Vaccine provided by the Southern Nevada Health District will be provided at no cost at this time. If you have insurance, your provider will be charged only for the cost of administering the vaccine. You will not receive a bill for the vaccine. If you are vaccinated at another provider, it is important to know they may charge an administration fee for giving the vaccine to you. This fee can be reimbursed by your insurance or Medicare/Medicaid.

The Health District is working in coordination with the Nevada State Immunization Program and State Public Health Preparedness staff to ensure there is equitable access to the vaccine by critical populations identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We are receiving the vaccine in phases and have limited numbers of doses so vaccine is being administered according to Nevada’s Vaccine Playbook to the groups who are most at risk of direct exposure to the virus do to their occupation or their age. A list of groups who are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine based on Nevada’s Vaccine Playbook is  available here.

Because we are currently receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in phases, the Health District is following CDC guidance and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Vaccination Program Playbook and administering the vaccine first to those who are most at risk of direct exposure to the virus and the highest risk groups. A copy of the playbook is available here.

As we receive shipments of vaccine, our goal is to work with our partners to administer the vaccine as quickly as possible to ensure our community fully vaccinated.

The CDC says that people who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before. You would need to follow up with your health care provider.

According to the CDC, the protection someone gains from having an infection, called “natural immunity,” varies depending on the disease, and it varies from person to person. Because the COVID-19 virus is new, we don’t know how long natural immunity might last. Current evidence suggests that getting the virus again is uncommon in the 90 days after your first infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask and staying at least 6 feet away from others, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

The CDC recommends pregnant women consult with their health care providers about the risks and benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Under the Emergency Use Authorization, the Pfizer vaccine can be used in people age 16 and older and the Moderna vaccine can be used in people age 18 and older.

The initial clinical trials did not include younger children. The safety and efficacy for children will be determined at a later date.

Yes. Wearing a mask is still recommended during the pandemic. We do know that the vaccine has been shown to protect the people who receive it; however, we do not have enough information to know if it protects those who haven’t been vaccinated. It is important to continue to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when in contact with others outside your household, when you are in a health care facility, and when receiving any vaccine, including a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information at Considerations for Wearing Masks.

The protection someone gains from having an infection (called “natural immunity”) varies depending on the disease, and it varies from person to person. Because this virus is new, we don’t know how long natural immunity might last. Current evidence suggests that getting the virus again (reinfection) is uncommon in the 90 days after the first infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.

We won’t know how long immunity lasts after vaccination until we have more data on how well COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions.

Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

Experts do not know what percentage of people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19. Herd immunity (community immunity) is a term used to describe when enough people have protection—either from previous infection or vaccination—that it is unlikely a virus or bacteria can spread and cause disease. As a result, everyone within the community is protected even if some people don’t have any protection themselves. The percentage of people who need to have protection in order to achieve community immunity varies by disease.

At this time, travelers are not included in the groups to receive vaccine unless they fall into one of the groups who are currently being vaccinated.

Currently, the CDC is recommending that people stay home as much as possible. If you must travel, there are considerations and recommendations on the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

If you are in one of the groups that is currently being offered the vaccine, you can schedule an appointment. If you are not in a group that is currently able to receive the vaccine, we will be updating information as soon as more vaccine is available and additional groups are eligible to receive it.