Blacks and Hispanics in Southern Nevada are lagging their white counterparts in obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data released Wednesday by the Southern Nevada Health District.
Of the 174,665 vaccines administered as of Feb. 2, only 10 percent went to Hispanics, who make up 32 percent of the population in Southern Nevada, and only four percent to Blacks, who comprise 12.5 percent.
Dr. Fermin Leguen, Chief Health Officer of the SNHD, said current vaccination locations are not capturing populations most affected by the pandemic.
“We have the distribution of people vaccinated by zip code. It doesn’t match the zip codes with the highest number of COVID cases,” Leguen said during a news media briefing Wednesday.
Leguen said SNHD intends to “move in a different direction in the near future and start deploying small vaccination sites or strike teams in partnership with local officials…”
“We are aware there are certain areas of this community that are being heavily affected by the pandemic. We need to target those areas to decrease transmission in those areas.”
White people received 40 percent of the doses administered through Feb. 2.
Eleven percent of the vaccinations were administered to Asians, 16 percent to those of unknown ethnicity, and 16 percent to those who designated “other” as their ethnic origin.
Men lag women in receiving the vaccination with females receiving 58 percent of the doses.
Seniors aged 65 and older received 42 percent of the vaccinations.
The 25 to 49 year-old age group received 28 percent. Many of those were first responders, law enforcement, and medical personnel, according to health officials.
