Several hundred more vaccinated

Two healthcare providers in Quay County vaccinated several hundred more people against the coronavirus in the past week.

C. Renee Hayoz, administrator at the Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari, said 150 people were administered the Moderna version of the vaccine last week. The clinic began vaccinations in late December.

She said she would request 200 more doses this week after receiving none last week. She said at least 100 of those doses would be earmarked as required booster shots for those who received the first dose of the vaccine in late December.

Hayoz recommended that people sign up at the New Mexico Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 vaccine registration database at https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org, where they will be notified as soon as they’re eligible.

Vickie Gutierrez, administrator and chief nurse executive at Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari, said her facility administered 204 doses of the Pfizer version of the COVID-19 vaccine last week and planned to administer 120 more this week.

Trigg began vaccinating people for COVID-19 in mid-December and was the first facility in Quay County to do so.

Those eligible for the vaccine are encouraged to call the hospital at (575) 461-7100 for an appointment. Trigg will do weekly vaccine clinics at no cost.

Residents who have questions or would like support with state vaccine registration — including those who do not have internet access — can dial 1-855-600-3453, press option 0 for vaccine questions, then option 4 for tech support. Users with other vaccine-related questions should call 1-855-600-3453 and press option 0.

Several healthcare workers contacted by the Quay County Sun last week said they anticipated the Quay County Public Health Office in Tucumcari soon would begin administering vaccines. The state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard also lists that office as a provider for the vaccines.

An agency spokesman, however, did not answer an email last week that asked whether vaccinations are imminent at the Second Street facility. A healthcare worker at that office declined to comment, deferring to the spokesman.

According to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, more than 185,000 doses had been administered in New Mexico through Friday, including more than 53,000 in the previous seven days.

Almost a half-million New Mexico residents had registered for the vaccine through the state’s website.

The DOH on Friday reiterated in a news release the phased criteria for those eligible for a vaccine.

These groups are eligible for vaccine in New Mexico:

• Hospital personnel;

• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities;

• Medical first responders;

• Congregate-setting workers;

• Persons providing direct medical care and other in-person services;

• Home-based health care and hospice workers;

• People age 75 and older;

• People age 16 and over who are at risk of COVID complications.

No other groups of people are eligible at this time, the agency stated.

“DOH needs to communicate clearly, consistently, and repeatedly about the state’s vaccination plan,” DOH Secretary-Designate Dr. Tracie Collins said. “But providers and other entities are also responsible for knowing — and following — that plan. That’s how we ensure that our limited supply of vaccine doses go to those who are most exposed or vulnerable to COVID-19. That’s how we save the most lives.”

Healthcare providers also may vaccinate people “out of subphase,” but only under specific conditions — such as less than 80% of appointments have filled for three days, vaccine is about to expire within 48 hours, or DOH notifies providers to begin vaccinating additional groups.