Thread by @GovSisolak

Good afternoon & thanks for tuning into today's press conference about our plan to roll out a #COVID19 vaccine when an FDA-approved one becomes available. I am joined by members of the @DhhsNevada team today who have been working on this plan since the start of this pandemic.

Earlier this month, @DhhsNevada submitted a draft of our state specific plan - or “playbook,” as we refer to it - for COVID-19 vaccine planning, to @CDCgov. While the plan is still in draft form, I am eager to share some details today. It will also be released this afternoon.

I want to be very clear with Nevadans: there are still many steps in the process before a vaccine is finalized and ready for distribution.

But I also want Nevadans to know: the State has been planning for months, and the State will be ready when the time comes.

It is natural to have questions about a new vaccine & we remain committed to transparency. That’s why I am joined by two experts on the vaccine planning team: Candice McDaniel, Health Bureau Chief and Shannon Bennett, Immunization Program Manager.

Vaccination planning is not new to the State of Nevada. We are fortunate to have an existing framework that is managed by a team of experts who work on these efforts on a daily basis, with other programs such as Vaccines for Children and the Flu Shot programs.

We anticipate receiving a small # of doses to begin & we've developed priority populations based on level of exposure. Our prioritization focuses on our front-line medical professionals 1st, especially for those who are in close & sustained contact with individuals who have COVID

While we cannot speak to decisions being made by federal agencies such as the FDA or CDC, we can ensure that we have a plan in place for Nevadans.

The plan is like the frame of a house – it sets the structure. Now, we will focus on furnishing it and attending to the details. Our goal is to be as prepared as possible when the vaccine becomes available in our state.

The NV Web IZ system has been in existence for years & is widely used by Nevada’s immunizing providers & NV state law requires all vaccines must be entered in the system. It will be used to manage and distribute COVID-19 vaccine in the same way.

The timing for an approved vaccine is unknown but the process for approval maintains the high standard always used for vaccines. The vaccine goes through clinical trials, each including more individuals who are monitored for side effects & effectiveness.

To meet the aggressive timeline of the fed govt's Operation Warp Speed, the COVID-19 vaccine is being manufactured while in the clinical trial phase. That's why a vaccine will be available as soon as the manufacturer can present a strong case to the FDA for emergency use.

We know vaccine hesitancy is in the news a lot & people have concerns, but we can be confident a vaccine will not be released if it has not been deemed safe & effective by the FDA & the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

To develop NV's COVID-19 vaccine plan we had to consider a variety of factors to be prepared for different vaccines when they becomes available Some criteria may change, but, from what we know, there will be challenges related to storing, handling & distributing this vaccine.

Vaccine distribution will involve ultra-cold storage & handling requirements, 2 doses that are not interchangeable between products, plus safely vaccinating people while in a pandemic. This monumental task will represent the greatest public health effort of a generation.

We are working with our partners statewide including providers, pharmacies, tribes & a statewide immunization coalition to prepare for a variety of distribution scenarios when the vaccine becomes available & we have information on the amount of vaccine allocated to Nevada.

Again, we want to stress that initial supplies of vaccine are expected to be limited and therefore will be prioritized for populations most at risk for exposure to COVID-19.  We are committed to an equitable distribution of a safe vaccine.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to follow up on our COVID numbers. On Saturday, the State reported over 1,000 cases, and as of today 8 of Nevada’s 17 counties have been flagged for elevated disease transmission.

And while our healthcare infrastructure continues to be moderately impacted by COVID-19 hospitalizations at this time, we know from experience that an increase in cases ultimately leads to an increase in hospitalizations.

There’s proof of this around the country where some states are seeing hospitalizations reach dangerous, record-breaking levels. It would be irresponsible for me to minimize the risk our State is facing. We as Nevadans have some tough choices to make.

I'm doing all I can to move forward. In fact, I'm currently working on a plan to increase capacity to 50 percent for conventions by Jan. 1, 2021. I know this will help get Nevadans back to work & bolster our economy.

I’m also working with health & education leaders to determine how we can get students back into the classroom as soon as possible in a safe & responsible manner. I know we can do it, but we ALL must be invested.

These are just some of the goals we are working on, but whether we can get there depends on public cooperation. We as Nevadans have some choices to make....

All Nevadans must ask themselves these questions:

Do you care more about getting kids back into the classroom than going to that big Halloween party?

Do you care about getting Nevadans back to work more than having a gathering at your home with no masks or social distancing?

Will you prioritize our small businesses over the annoyance of a mask.

Will you consider the fatigue of our healthcare workers more than our own?

These are our choices, Nevada. I choose our students. I choose jobs. I choose our economy. I need all of Nevada -- every single one of us -- to unite to make these choices together by following ALL public health measures.

ALL TOGETHER NOW:
Wear face coverings  
Practice social distancing
Wash your hands
Avoid crowds
If you are sick or have been exposed, please isolate  
Get a test if you had a positive contact or symptoms

Especially in flu season, getting a flu shot is more important than ever. Combo of flu and COVID could place an additional burden on our hospitals. Do your part. @ImmunizeNV has locations and more information on flu shots.

Nevada: I know this isn't easy, but we can do this together. Let's make the right choices.