DoH announces COVID-19 vaccine website

The New Mexico Department of Health announced last week the launch of a website that enables New Mexico residents to receive notice when they qualify for COVID-19 vaccine.

That website is available at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/.

New Mexico is offering vaccine doses to healthcare workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities in Phase 1a of vaccine distribution.

New Mexicans who work in these settings may sign up to receive vaccine during this phase:

 Healthcare workers who have direct contact with patients;

 Workers in other settings (such as congregate care facilities or private homes) who have direct contact with people or materials that may be infectious.

We are eager to distribute vaccine doses as quickly as we can, but that depends on the timeline of shipments from the federal government. This website will enable New Mexicans to sign up for vaccine doses or to find out as soon as they qualify to receive them, Department of Health Secretary-Designate Dr. Tracie C. Collins stated in a news release.

Collins said in a news briefing last week her agency would review federal guidelines in early January for giving the vaccine to New Mexico workers. State health officials previously have said they want essential workers to be on a higher-priority list for the vaccine.

Additional New Mexicans will be able to schedule their vaccinations as the DOH receives more information about the number and timing of additional vaccine shipments in the coming weeks and months.

˛ˇThe goal is for every New Mexico resident to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine when large quantities are available. The state expects several thousand vaccination providers and numerous locations throughout the state will eventually be available, including doctors offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, community locations and federally qualified health centers.

When asked how many healthcare workers had refused the vaccine in its early rollouts, Human Services Secretary David Scrase said every appointment slot has been full for the inoculation and that healthcare workers have shown very high enthusiasm for it.

For more information, visit https://cv.nmhealth.org/covid-vaccine/.