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William Van Herpe, a paramedic for the Santa Fe County Fire Department, gets a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday from Rebecca Romero, a registered nurse at the Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Santa Feans seem to have done a great job of following recommendations and mandates on wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even outdoors these days, on trails, almost everyone appears to have bought into the science-based idea that masks can do lot to keep oneself safe and stop the spread of the virus to others.
Now comes the next stage of the fight against the pandemic. Vaccinations by a couple of manufacturers have been approved by federal regulators and one of our local hospitals, Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, was the first in New Mexico to get a batch of the shots for front-line medical personnel. Some time over the next few mont
By Cedar Attanasio Associated Press / Report For America
Lawyers representing Native American students say New Mexico is violating a 2018 court order in a landmark education case as attempts to boost internet access and provide learning devices are falling short.
The case covers 80% of the state s students, including Native Americans and those who are low-income or disabled.
Lawyers representing the students say educational opportunities would not have been as inadequate had the state complied with the court order and ensured access to technology for all students.
In a motion filed Tuesday, they asked a court to compel the state to provide laptops and internet to students who still lack them.
The COVID-19 ward at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center is where the reality of a pandemic plays out on a daily basis.
Life. Death. Sorrow. Hope. Spend time in the place they call Frost 19, and youâll see it all roll past, as health care workers and patients conspire to make it through another day, one draining hour at a time.
âWeâre like soldiers on a battlefield,â said Bre Slaughter, a critical care nurse at the hospital. âBut weâre not fighting with bullets or bombs. Weâre fighting with blood, sweat and ventilators.â
Sometimes, there are tears of joy in Frost 19 â a patient makes it through, and out the door to a future many say they appreciate all the more.
The state confirmed Tuesday it had to discard 75 doses of Pfizerâs COVID-19 vaccine because of potential overheating during delivery to a Clayton hospital.
It was unclear how troublesome the loss of the vaccine would be for the state, given the limited volume of 17,550 doses New Mexico has received this week for front-line medical workers. Each person vaccinated requires two doses.
A spokesman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishamâs office said the 75 doses were en route from the state Department of Healthâs warehouse in Albuquerque to Union County General Hospital in Clayton when a digital gauge indicated the storage temperature might be too warm.