A Las Vegas Strip resort will join the high-profile venues around the country that are serving as COVID-19 vaccination centers.
The currently unused convention space inside Encore at Wynn Las Vegas will house the vaccination distribution facility starting Monday for Nevada residents who are eligible under the state’s current guidelines. The location will be operated by Southern Nevada’s University Medical Center.
Encore has been closed to midweek business due to a Las Vegas’ tourism slowdown brought about by the pandemic. The property’s convention space, which is not being used, is the resort’s self-parking garage.
Sports stadiums and arenas throughout the U.S. are also serving as locations used to distribute the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Wynn CEO Matt Maddox said in a statement Encore would be a perfect setting to help facilitate vaccine distribution “as quickly and efficiently as possible” throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
“Our partnership with UMC began with our extensive onsite employee testing program,” Maddox said. “Based upon the success of that program with UMC, we look forward to hosting this critical step in our state’s economic and health recovery.”
Initially, the UMC COVID-19 Vaccination Center will only offer the vaccine to people 70 and older, healthcare workers, and first responders, based on Nevada’s current guidelines. Appointments are required through UMC.
UMC CEO Mason Van Houweling called the Encore location “a valuable asset to our community as we work together to protect our most vulnerable populations and eventually bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Encore location will replace UMC’s existing COVID-19 vaccination clinic at UMC’s Delta Point Building. All UMC vaccination appointments scheduled on or after January 18 will take place at the Encore location.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
