Sept. 24, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Pfizer COVID-19 booster dose is now available for residents starting Monday at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a final recommendation late Thursday outlining eligibility for boosters.
Only those who received the Pfizer vaccine (both first and second doses) completed 6 months ago are eligible. Residents must bring their COVID-19 vaccine card they received when getting the first two Pfizer COVID-19 doses. The additional dose will help increase protection from COVID-19.
If you received the Moderna or Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine you are NOT eligible at this time. This is because the FDA and CDC has not yet approved boosters for those vaccines.
Booster doses, per the CDC, can be administered to the following residents:
- 65 years of age and older
- Long term care facility residents
- 50-64 years of age with an underlying health condition
- 18-49 years of age with an underlying condition are eligible, but should weigh their benefits with risks
- 18-64 years of age with high exposure occupations
Residents who want to get the booster dose at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center can sign up here and clicking on the “Schedule Additional Dose” button. Residents could experience longer wait times and additional paperwork might be required onsite.
Other vaccine providers in Washoe County also will be administering Pfizer booster doses and those locations can be found here.
To schedule a vaccine appointment with Community Health Alliance, go here.
First and second doses will also be available for all residents by using the same sign-up form. You can also call 775-328-2427. The RSLEC will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but could change based on demand.
Those with questions about their vaccination card should request that information through WebIZ. When you arrive at RSLEC, you will fill out paperwork self-attesting to your eligibility.
Third doses for immunocompromised still available
Residents who are immunocompromised can still receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and it can be either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those who received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible for the third dose at this time.
Read more about additional doses for immunocompromised people here.
COVID-19 testing in Washoe County
The availability of COVID-19 test appointments is limited but there are options.
- Washoe County Health District – Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center (RSLEC): Schedule an appointment here (all ages)
- Walmart (All ages)
- I-580 and 2nd St. – Walmart, 2425 E. 2nd St, Reno, NV 89502 – Sign up for appointment here
- Lemmon Valley – Walmart, 250 Vista Knoll Pkwy, Reno, NV 89506 – Sign up for appointment here
- Note: The testing is drive through and is done outside the store and not in the pharmacy.
- Area pharmacies: Find locations here.
- CVS Health (Ages 3+)
- Walgreens (Ages 3+)
It’s extremely important for residents who aren’t going to make it to their testing appointments to cancel through the platform from which they signed up.
About 20 percent of all appointments at the RSLEC have been no shows over the last week and those appointments go unused. The appointment slots could have been provided to others who need a test if those who cannot show up canceled through the proper channels. For questions about RSLEC testing, please call 775-328-2427.
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.