As more supply of the COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Nevada, more groups are becoming eligible to get their shots. Starting Saturday, people age 55 and older who have underlying health conditions will be able to sign up for an appointment. The state is working with pharmacies to open up vaccinations for that group, which could begin late next week.

"The 55-and-older with underlying health conditions is a big step forward for us as we continue to try to reopen the economy as responsibly as we can," Caleb Cage, State of Nevada COVID-19 Response Director said.

For a list of qualifying underlying health conditions: Nevada DHHS Technical Bulletin 

Southern Nevada is opening up vaccinations to the essential workforce in its largest industry. Workers in food services and hospitality are next to get their shots.

"This is exciting news and helps get us one step closer to getting Nevada's economy back on track," Cage said.

Northern Nevada is not pushing that group up. It is sticking with the state's playbook. Washoe County is still working through the Frontline Supply Chain Logistics category. Food services and hospitality is in the Frontline Commerce and Services Industries.

"The interest was to, in northern Nevada areas, to continue to focus on the next steps within the playbook and to remain on their current trajectory," Cage said. "They also have different considerations because the economy is different in northern Nevada and it involves end-to-end logistics."

President Joe Biden says every American adult will be eligible to receive the vaccine by May 1.

"We see the challenge ahead of us but we are looking very much towards making sure that all Nevadans who wish to be vaccinated can be vaccinated by that time, and we would love nothing more," Cage said.

Vaccine experts say that with three vaccines available, people should not shop for the shot of their choice. Instead, they say to take the first one that is available.

"The longer we allow infection to go on in the community, the more chance for these variants to rise and to take hold," Dr. Mark Riddle, Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System said.

Rural Nevada is getting some additional help, as well. Esmeralda and Nye Counties are teaming up to make it easier to deliver vaccines to its remote areas. Challenges include distribution, storage and handling of the vaccine.

"The state has offered to send a mobile POD out to some of these remote areas in coordination with local officials," Cage said.

There are no counties in Nevada that are flagged for disease transmission. That means they do not have two of the three criteria that show elevated risk.

"We're very happy about that but we want to ask everyone to remain vigilant," Cage said.

Nevada's new daily cases have remained in the 200 range. Those jumped up to 618 on Thursday and 858 on Friday. Cage says that is likely an anomaly. He says there were a higher number of tests on those days and that some of the earlier reports were delayed, causing the spike.