Covid-19 VirusThe New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is leading the State of New Mexico’s COVID-19 vaccination planning and implementation, and collaborating with other agencies as well as public, private, and tribal partners.

Both Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines Are Available in New Mexico

The COVID-19 vaccines being distributed in New Mexico include both the Pfizer and Moderna MRNA vaccines, a new approach to vaccinations on a national scale. Rather than using a weakened or inactivated virus to trigger an immune response (like the flu vaccine), this new type of vaccine teaches our own cells how to make a harmless protein (or a piece of one) that triggers an immune response. Emergency Use Authorization was granted by the CDC to use these vaccines after rigorous testing for safety and efficacy.

New Mexico is taking a tiered approach for eligibility for the vaccine, with the full allocation and distribution plan found here. Currently, hospital personnel, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, medical first responders, congregate setting workers, persons providing direct medical care and other in-person services, home-based health care and hospice workers, people age 75 and over, and people age 16 and over at risk of COVID complications, are all eligible for the vaccine. Registration for the vaccine is available online.

Vaccination Rates Vary by County

NMDOH is collecting data on vaccination rates by county, as well as demographic information about who has received the vaccine. This information is available online. Currently, Guadalupe County has the highest vaccination rate in the state, with over 75% of residents over the age of 16 having received at least one dose of a vaccine.

While every vaccine carries risk, COVID-19 is a very dangerous disease infecting hundreds of thousands, hospitalizing tens of thousands, and causing the deaths of over 3,600 of our fellow New Mexicans. The risks associated with COVID-19 or the vaccine increase when people do not follow the rules, or medical professionals do not provide appropriate care. If you have concerns for you or a family member about treatment for COVID-19 or the vaccine, contact us today to learn more about your options.

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