Half-million in NM fully vaccinated
Apr. 10—One-third of New Mexicans 16 and older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with 50% having received at least one dose.
The announcement by the state Department of Health comes five days after the state lifted the last of its restrictions on who could get vaccinated.
"These milestones matter," Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins said in a news release. "They show very clearly that our vaccination efforts are working, and that we're moving faster than any state in the country toward herd immunity."
Experts say stopping COVID-19 will require 70% to 90% of a population to be immune because they've been vaccinated or have recovered from the disease and developed antibodies against future infection.
Of the 1.68 million New Mexicans eligible to receive the vaccine, which is given to those 16 and older, 860,521 people have received at least one dose, and 564,503 are fully vaccinated, according to the DOH vaccine dashboard.
With vaccine supply limited in the early months of the rollout, the state had prioritized vaccinations for those most at-risk: front-line health workers, first responders, those 75 and older and those with chronic health conditions. Next in line were essential workers, and those 60 and older.
As of Monday, anyone 16 and older who hadn't been eligible in the past was permitted to get a vaccine.
Those who wish to be vaccinated are urged to register with the DOH, which has been sending out invitations to those eligible as slots with providers open up.
Though some providers in the state do not require preregistration on the DOH portal, most do.
Vaccinations are credited with helping keep the number of new COVID-19 cases in check.
On Friday, the DOH reported 126 new cases, bringing the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases statewide to 182. Two additional deaths were reported, both in Sandoval County.
