Aug. 26, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – More than 60 percent of eligible Washoe County residents are fully vaccinated and more than 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, the Regional Information Center is reporting.
According to the NV Health Response dashboard, 245,699 people 12 years and older in Washoe County are fully vaccinated, which is 60.13% of the eligible population. The dashboard also states that 500,617 total doses have been administered.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment as we are among the leaders in the state for having the highest percentage of our eligible population fully vaccinated,” said Kevin Dick. District Health Officer in Washoe County. “This shows the great work from the National Guard, Health District staff, volunteers and several outstanding partners in the community to protect the community from COVID-19. We still have a long way to go, but this is very encouraging news.”
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in the community, including at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center and at Community Vaccine Events. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine received full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval earlier this week.
While the 60.13% mark ranks second in the state to only Carson City (60.94%), there is still a large portion of the community that is eligible but not vaccinated and they are accounting for a strong majority of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in our area. According to the Nevada Hospital Association, about 80% of hospitalized patients have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Below are some common myths and misinformation related to the vaccine that are spreading online, all of which are either unproven or have no supporting evidence. If you see misinformation on social media, please report it to that website, and do not propagate information that isn’t coming from reputable sources.
- Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?
- The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. Any reference to gene therapy is false and misleading.
- More people are being hospitalized due to the COVID-19 vaccine.
- According to the Nevada Hospital Association, nearly 80% of all hospitalized patients are unvaccinated. There is no evidence that people are being hospitalized or dying from the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Hospitals should be using Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 hospitalization cases.
- According to the FDA, it is used for horses and cows. Learn more from the FDA here. The CDC also stated that ivermectin has not been proven as a way to prevent or treat COVID-19.
- Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?
- There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that female or male fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Vaccination is important.
- Do COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips?
- COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are developed to fight against disease and are not administered to track your movement. Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.
More information from the CDC regarding COVID-19 vaccine misinformation can be found here.
COVID-19 third dose still available for immunocompromised residents
Washoe County residents who are immunocompromised can receive a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC) drive-through clinic or Health District Community Vaccine Events if they meet certain criteria outlined by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
Those who received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine are not eligible for the third dose, per the FDA. At this time, only those immunocompromised are eligible for a third dose and residents don’t need an appointment when coming to the RSLEC on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Click this link for more information about eligibility.
Sign up for the COVID Trace App
COVID Trace is a contact tracing mobile app developed by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services that uses a technology called the Exposure Notifications System from Google and Apple. The app exchanges anonymous information with other phones in your vicinity and can notify you if you’ve come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. See more here.
The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is working together to deliver COVID-19 community updates in a unified manner. While press releases are only sent periodically for significant events, you can always get daily results on our website, https://covid19washoe.com/, our COVID-19 Dashboard or by following us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe. The entities include: City of Reno, City of Sparks, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Regional Transportation Commission, REMSA, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno Police Department, Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the group are the area hospitals, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s.