Hospitality and Food Service Workers Can Now Get Vaccinated in Clark County

The long wait for food service and hospitality workers to get vaccinated is over. On March 11, the Southern Nevada Health District and State of Nevada announced that restaurant, bar, and hotel employees can now book appointments to receive either the first of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna or the one-dose version from Johnson & Johnson.

“These workers are the next group in the Frontline/Essential Workforce lane (“Frontline Commerce & Service Industries”), & will allow Clark County and SNHD to use their current supply on-hand while also moving into a critical workforce for Nevada’s economy,” Gov. Steve Sisolak wrote on his Facebook page.

An estimated 301,700 hospitality employees work in Nevada, with about 60,000 represented by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which is already encouraging is members to get vaccinated.

The state already announced plans to lift restaurant and bar restrictions from 35 percent capacity to 50 percent on March 15. In the past 30 days, an estimated 1,336 people may have been exposed to COVID-19 at a restaurant, according to the health district. On Thursday, the state recorded 618 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number reported since February 13, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Nevada reported 297,765 cases of COVID-19 and 5,080 deaths.

Since December, the health district administered 578,420 vaccine doses, including 3,253 doses of Johnson & Johnson, 151,695 first and 78,661 second doses of Moderna, and 223,460 first and 121,351 second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech.

Hospitality and food service workers can book appointments in advance to receive the vaccinations at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Cashman Center, and Canyon Springs High School. Those workers need to provide proof of employment, such as an employee badge or paystub, and photo identification. To book appointments, head online.

Next week, pharmacies statewide should open vaccination availability for those 55 and older with underlying health conditions, individuals with disabilities, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

• The Wait for Nevada’s Hospitality Workers to Get Vaccinated May Be Over in Two Weeks [ELV]

• How Coronavirus Is Affecting Las Vegas Food and Restaurants [ELV]