LM Otero / AP
In this Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, photo, a patient receives an influenza vaccine in Mesquite, Texas.
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 | 2 a.m.
Only one in five Nevadans have gotten their flu shots this year, despite a $1.3 million infusion of federal funds to promote vaccinations during a time when public health officials say they are needed the most.
The state’s inoculation rate has inched up nominally this year but still hovers around 20%, said Renee Brocker, a public health advisor for the Nevada State Immunization Program. But the demands of flu season could pinch hard on a health care infrastructure already strained by the coronavirus crisis, leading to a “twindemic.”
“Flu vaccination is a critical part of the COVID-19 response, and it’s more important than ever to decrease the burden of respiratory illness on the public and the health care system,” Brocker told the state COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force at its Dec. 3 meeting. “As of now flu activity has been minimal, but flu season is always unpredictable and it can pick up, so we want to have that precaution in place.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the flu season as October through May, with the infection peak typically occurring between December and February. Vaccines may be updated from year to year based on the most current research, as the viruses are constantly changing; effectiveness varies, but a vaccine could reduce the risk of flu illness by as much as 40% to 60%, the CDC says. The body needs about two weeks to build up the protective antibodies contained in the vaccine.
Data show that vaccines typically peak in early October and level off by November or December. The state will be pushing for a late-season shot surge this year, Brocker said.
More than 637,000 flu vaccines were administered across Nevada between July and November, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly half were to people over age 60. Young adults in their 20s and 30s were least likely to get inoculated.
Clark County is improving its “coverage,” with 18.5% of residents inoculated so far this year. About 16.3% of the Las Vegas area had been vaccinated this time last year.
However, even the improvement places Clark County mid-pack. Carson City leads Nevada, with close to a third of its 56,000 residents currently vaccinated. Flu shots are least common in tiny, remote Esmeralda and Storey counties, where less than 10% of residents have been vaccinated.
By the end of last fiscal year, about 44% of Nevadans had received a flu shot, compared with 52% nationally, the state health department says. In 2018-19, with the national figure also about half, Nevada’s vaccination coverage was 38%.
Task force member Terry Reynolds, from the Department of Business and Industry, said it’s obvious state officials aren’t getting the message out.
“What can we do — and this may be rhetorical — but what can we do as a state to increase our numbers?” he asked Brocker.
She suggested some reasons why Nevada has such weak coverage: Access isn’t equal statewide. There are misconceptions about the vaccine.
A portion of the $1.3 million the CDC allocated to Nevada is beefing up this year’s educational push. Hashtags like #flufighter and #ProtectNV accompany stylish public service announcement spots and posters featuring essential workers and first responders. Additionally, roving clinics have been available at ballot drop-off locations and food pantries.
Brocker also suggested trusted local leaders spread the word in their communities.
“Just as with COVID, the messaging is really important,” she said.
