Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Quay County worsened last week, with dosage numbers lower compared to the previous week.
The county also has one of the worst vaccine administration rates in New Mexico.
Vickie Gutierrez, administrator and chief nurse executive at Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari, reported in an email the hospital administered 120 doses of the Pfizer vaccine last week. That compares to the 204 doses given the previous week.
Gutierrez said she’s requested 120 more doses for the hospital this week.
C. Renee Hayoz, administrator at Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari, said 130 doses of the Moderna vaccine were given last week, compared to 150 the previous week.
Hayoz pointed out 80 of those doses last week were for booster shots for patients who received the first dose.
She said she’s requested 100 more doses this week. If that request isn’t fulfilled, Hayoz said she has only 20 doses left, and all those are earmarked for the required booster shots.
Hayoz said her clinic has taken about 30 phone calls a day from people wanting the vaccine.
“There’s a lot of frustration,” she said. “People, especially the elderly, are getting upset.”
Hayoz said more of her patients are reporting mild, flulike symptoms that last one to two days after the second dose of the Moderna vaccine. She said was unaware of any serious side effects locally.
A New Mexico Department of Health spokesman said last week he could not confirm reports of the DOH office in Tucumcari hosting a vaccine event but acknowledged the agency was “working on plans” for it. Hayoz said she’d heard the DOH was planning a vaccine event at the Tucumcari Convention Center.
Hayoz recommended people sign up at the DOH’s dedicated COVID-19 vaccine registration database at https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org , where they will be notified as soon as they’re eligible.
Those eligible for the vaccine also are encouraged to call Trigg 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.
These groups currently are eligible for the COVID-19 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.
According to the DOH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, more than 248,000 vaccines have been administered in New Mexico through Friday. Of those, about 197,000 are primary doses and 50,000 are booster shots.
About 53,000 doses had been administered in the last seven days in the state.
The website also states 376 residents of Quay County have been fully vaccinated, and 4.49% of the county’s population has received at least one dose. Only Lincoln and Harding counties have lower rates.
Neighboring Guadalupe County has the highest vaccine administration rate in the state, at more than 34%. That’s mostly due to a recent one-day event in Santa Rosa attended by 900 people.
Union County is third in the state in vaccine administration rates, at 28.6%. San Miguel County is in the top five, at 18.1%.
Dr. Tracie Collins, Secretary-designate for the Health Department, said early last week New Mexico has the third-highest vaccine administration rates in the country. She anticipated, however, it would take “several months” to vaccinate the estimated 800,000 state residents currently eligible for Phase 1B of the rollout plan because of lack of supply.