News

An amended emergency public health order issued last week by the state of New Mexico will effectively require many workers to receive a booster shot when eligible to protect against the ongoing spread of COVID-19.This state was one of the first to expand booster eligibility and for weeks has been recommending all vaccinated adults receive one.

New Mexico’s state public health policies have for months required that many workers in higher-risk environments – including workers in all health care and congregate-care settings – be vaccinated. Public school workers and state employees, meanwhile, must submit to weekly COVID-19 testing if they are not vaccinated.

The amended state public health order, issued Thursday by Acting Health Secretary David R. Scrase, M.D., will require those categories of workers to receive a booster shot.

Those workers must receive a booster dose no later than January 17, 2022, or within four weeks of becoming eligible.

Source: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/12/02/updated-public-health-order-to-require-boosters-for-some-vaccinated-workers/

The New Mexico Department of Health announced on Friday that COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine booster scheduling is now available for 16-17-year-olds.

This follows federal approvals by the FDA and CDC and a review by the New Mexico Medical Advisory Team yesterday.

Parents and guardians can register and schedule their children for vaccine boosters at vaccineNM.org. (Additional instructions are available at vaccineNM.org/kids.) Parents and guardians can also schedule directly with their health care provider. In addition, parents and guardians will be able to find vaccine appointments on the CDC vaccine finder website: Vaccines.gov – Find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you.

Key Reminders

• The Pfizer booster dose is to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series. The booster dose for people 16 years and older is the same dosage as the Pfizer primary series.
• Teens 16 – 17 years old can only get a Pfizer booster. Adults 18 years and older can get a booster dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the US (Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J).
• Although COVID-19 vaccination remains effective in preventing severe disease, recent data suggest vaccinations become less effective over time – hence the importance of boosters.
• Data from clinical trials showed that a booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished an mRNA vaccine 6 months earlier or who received a J&J single-dose vaccine 2 months earlier.
• Getting boosters on time is especially important given the rise in Delta-related cases in New Mexico and the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant.

Source: https://cv.nmhealth.org/2021/12/10/13730/

Pharmacies in Silver City

• Albertsons Pharmacy, 1956 US-180 E, Silver City. Hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Sat-Sun 10am – 5pm
  • Appointment required
  • Register online first at the link below
    • https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/my-registration.html

• Walgreens Pharmacy, 100 Rosedale Rd, Silver City. Hours: M-F 9am – 9pm, Saturday 9am – 6pm, Sunday 10am – 6pm. Pharmacy closed 1:30 – 2pm for meal break.
  • Same day and walk-in appointments available
  • To schedule an appointment by phone, call your local pharmacy (575-388-3113 or 1-800-WALGREENS) 
  • To schedule online, visit this website: https://www.walgreens.com/topic/findcare/coronavirus.jsp?ban=dl_dlDLB_03292020_covid19

• CVS Pharmacy, 610 Silver Heights Blvd, Silver City. Hours: M-F 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 6pm, Sunday 10am – 6pm
  • Walk-in vaccinations available within pharmacy hours
  • Scheduling of vaccinations also available
    • https://www.cvs.com/store-locator/cvs-pharmacy-locations/covid-vaccine/New-Mexico/Silver-City

• WalMart Pharmacy, 2501 US-180, Silver City. Hours: Open until 8pm
  • Appointment required. Visit this website: https://www.walmart.com/account/login?returnUrl=%2Fpharmacy%2Fclinical-services%2Fimmunization%2Fscheduled%3Fimztype%3Dcovid%26emailMe%3Dfalse

• Silver Health Care, 1600 E. 32nd Street, Silver City, NM 88061, (575) 538-2981.  Must register with NMDOH https://goodtimes.vaccinenm.org/stay-ahead-nm/, and schedule for Thursday morning vaccination.

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Hidalgo Medical Services

• Grant County COVID-19 Community Clinic
  • Register for an appointment at vaccinenm.org
  • HOURS for VACCINATION / BOOSTER APPOINTMENTS: 
    • 9:00 – 11:30 am and 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm M-F

• Hidalgo County COVID-19 Community Clinic
  • Address: 109 Poplar Street Lordsburg, NM 88045
  • Register for an appointment at vaccinenm.org
  • HOURS for VACCINATION / BOOSTER APPOINTMENTS: 
    • 9:00 – 11:30 am and 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm M-F

For more information, visit Hidalgo Medical Services website at hms-nm.org

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order expanding eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to all New Mexico adults as part of the state’s strategy to address rising case numbers and hospitalizations, a trend being seen nationwide.

New Mexicans aged 18 and over may now schedule a booster shot if:

• They received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago OR
• They completed the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series more than six months ago

“Providing boosters for adults will significantly increase levels of immunity protection across our state – and that’s essential for all of us. COVID-19 is incredibly opportunistic – and it’s our job to ensure that the virus has fewer and fewer opportunities to spread,” said Secretary Scrase. “If it’s time for you to get a booster, please do so right away.”

While the vaccines remain highly effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths, new data suggests that immunity protection can wane over time – leading to more vaccine breakthrough cases. As immunity protection wanes, the immunized become more susceptible to infection – though their infections are typically much milder than those among unvaccinated individuals.

Health officials also strongly recommend that children 5-17 receive vaccinations.

New Mexicans can sign up for initial vaccinations and booster shots at VaccineNM.org. Instructions for scheduling children’s vaccinations are also available here.

Source: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/11/12/state-extends-booster-eligibility-to-all-new-mexico-adults/