Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Quay County health providers administered fewer than 100 people with COVID-19 vaccines last week, though rates remained at a high level statewide despite a pause with the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
A total of 95 shots were administered in the county last week — 60 at the Quay County Family Health Center, 27 by the Quay County Public Health Office and eight at Trigg Memorial Hospital. All used the Moderna vaccine.
The total the previous week was 270, mostly because of two vaccination events at the Tucumcari Convention Center.
C. Renee Hayoz, administrator at the Quay County Family Health Center, said her clinic had 100 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on hand when federal health authorities ordered a pause in its use while they investigated extremely rare but potentially fatal blood clots possibly associated with the vaccine.
Hayoz said the Johnson & Johnson vaccines the clinic has won’t expire until June 16. She expressed hope an announcement about their future use would come within the next week.
In the meantime, Hayoz said her clinic is conducting a vaccine event this week for about 20 “straggler” patients unable to get their Moderna booster shots at the previously scheduled time. She said the booster shot remains highly effective if administered within two weeks after its optimum time.
Vickie Gutierrez, administrator at Trigg Hospital, said her facility did not have any Johnson & Johnson vaccines on-site.
Trigg is scheduled to give 10 shots of the Moderna vaccine this week.
The Quay County Public Health Office will continue to hold vaccination events at the convention center each Wednesday.
Through Friday, 35% of Quay County residents — or nearly 2,400 — had been given at least one COVID-19 vaccine, and 28.3% were fully vaccinated.
The state's Department of Health continued to encourage residents to register for the vaccine at vaccineNM.org. Senior citizens and those with disabilities also can call 1-800-432-2080 for help with registration and scheduling.
Statewide, more than 107,000 people were vaccinated in the past seven days through Friday. More than 55% of New Mexico resident had received at least one shot, and 37.3% were fully vaccinated.
Curry, Roosevelt, Eddy and Torrance counties continued to be laggards, with full vaccination rates in the low 20s to high teens.