NMDOH cancels vaccine events for Albuquerque, Rio Rancho schools Share Updated: 8:45 PM MST Jan 21, 2021 Brandon Evans Share Updated: 8:45 PM MST Jan 21, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript WHAT’S NOW TURNING INTO EMPTY VIALS, AND EMPTY PROMISES. BRANDON: THE STATE’S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD HOPED TO START VACCINATING SOME TEACHERS AND STAFF THIS WEEK. BUT NOW THAT GROUP WILL NOW HAVE TO WAIT. APS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SCOTT ELDER TELLS ME THEY ACTUALLY HAD A VACCINATION EVENT PLANNED FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW. >> LAST FRIDAY, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE COULD HAVE UP TO 2,000 VACCINATIONS. BRANDON: BUT, HE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TOLD THEM THAT NUMBER WOULD ACTUALLY BE ONE THOUSAND. >> ON TUESDAY, WE SENT OUT NOTIFICATIONS TO THE THOUSAND TEACHERS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL, CUSTODIANS, PRINCIPALS, COUNCILORS WHO WERE WORKING IN THE SPECIAL ED IN THE RED SCHOOLS. BRANDON: THE SPECIAL IN THE RED ARE TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM WORKING WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. BUT THEN HE SAYS DOH CHANGED THE PLAN AGAIN. >> ON TUESDAY AT 4:30, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE CLINIC WAS BEING CANCELLED. BRANDON: HE SAYS THIS WAS THE REASON THEY GAVE. >> WHAT WE WERE TOLD IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE 75 AND OLDER AGE GROUP AND THE 16 AND OLDER WITH PREXISTING CONDITIONS. WHILE HE ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH THE NEED THOSE GROUPS HAVE. AND THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THE STATE HAS TO MAKE. HE SAYS HAVING THE EVENT CANCELLED IS FRUSTRATING FOR THOSE THOSE TEACHERS WHO HAD THEIR HOPES UP THEY WERE GOING TO GET IT. >> I’M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE DOH. I’M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE ROLLOUT. I JUST ASK THAT IT BE CONSISTENT AND FAIR. BRANDON: HE SAYS VACCINATIONS ARE KEY TO WHAT THEY CAN OR CAN’T DO NEXT. >> I THINK THAT’S HOW WE’RE GOING TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, MORE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL SAFER, QUICKER. VACCINES EQUAL HOPE. BRANDON: AND WHAT’S EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING IS THAT ELDER TELLS ME THE STATE IS NOT TOLD THEM WHEN THEY CAN RESCHEDULE T