January 26, 2021
Major hospital systems in New Mexico say that they are prepared to administer many more COVID-19 shots as they become available. But the nature of the supply chain is not only out of their hands, it’s out of the hands of the state, which relies on distribution from the federal government.
Department of Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins said that, as of Sunday, the state had received 221,375 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the federal government and administered 203,830, or over 90 percent.
“New Mexico [has] the third-highest vaccine administration rate among all states in the country,” Collins said. “So we have a lot to be proud of.”
NMiF visits with Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on pandemic efforts January 14, 2021
The Navajo Nation is one of the largest tribes in the United States, both geographically and by population. The Navajo have been hit hard by COVID-19, with more than 25,000 positive cases and more than 800 deaths. Jonathan Nez, president of the Navajo Nation, has been fighting the pandemic with curfews and lockdowns and has aggressively ramped up vaccination efforts. Correspondent Antonia Gonzales talks with President Nez about plans for the new year.
Dr. Tracie Collins, the secretary-designate of New Mexico’s Dept. of Health, and a group of medical experts from Presbyterian, Lovelace and UNM hospitals held press conferences this week to explain the roll-out of vaccinations so far. They also talked about moving into the next phase of vaccinations for older New Mexicans and those with underlying conditions. New Mexico in Focus includes part of that discussion.
January 12, 2021
As New Mexico looks to move to phase 1B of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, nearly 400,000 New Mexicans have signed up to get their name on the list, Health Secretary-designate Dr. Tracie Collins said in a press conference Monday.
As of Monday, and citing information from 81 percent of providers, Collins said the state had received more than 170,000 doses from the federal government despite a rocky process on the federal level and administered 78,143 of those doses, including more than 30,000 in the last week.
Those who qualify for a vaccination “will receive a notification when a vaccine is available at a nearby location” and be able to set up an appointment, Collins said.