Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Nannette Macias-Ray, nurse manager for the New Mexico Department of Health office in Tucumcari, gives a patient the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Thursday afternoon at Mesalands Community College. Six people received the single-dose vaccine during the event.
COVID-19 vaccinations in Quay County continued to slow to a trickle last week, prompting one health provider to consider giving away its leftover vaccines at one of the local truck stops before they expire.
Mesalands Community College hosted an event Thursday with the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine and drew only six takers.
Only five people participated in the Quay County Health Department's weekly vaccination event at the Tucumcari Convention Center. Despite the low number, the department will continue to hold vaccination events there each Wednesday.
Trigg Memorial Hospital didn't administer any doses last week, as it was out of supply. It did receive a new supply of Modern vaccine, and has 19 booster shots scheduled for June 15.
Quay County Family Health Center also didn't administer any vaccines last week, though it's scheduled to give about two dozen booster shots of the Moderna vaccine this week.
However, the clinic has about 35 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine set to expire by mid-month. This has prompted administrator C. Renee Hayoz to consider a pop-up event at Love's Travel Center, Flying J Travel Center or Allsup's in Tucumcari to give those doses, even to out-of-state tourists, if necessary.
"It's slowed down quite a bit," she said of the local vaccination rate.
According to New Mexico Department of Health data, 36.1% of Quay County residents were fully vaccinated on Friday, an increase of 0.5% from the previous week. The proportion of residents with at least one shot was 40.4%, an increase of 0.4% from the previous span.
That compares to a full vaccination rate of 56.1% statewide and 65.8% of all eligible New Mexico residents receiving at least one shot on Friday. Once the state hits 60% full vaccination, it will lift its red-to-turquoise COVID-19 restrictions two weeks later. That's anticipated to happen later this month.
Hayoz speculated that eastern New Mexico counties' full vaccination numbers, including Quay County's, are low because of usual hesitancy, plus a number of residents traveled into Texas to get their vaccines.
She expressed optimism the state's Vax to the Max Sweepstakes announced last week that will offer $10 million in prizes (see separate story in this edition) will draw more people out of the woodwork to get their shots.
"I think the lottery could make a big difference," she said.
All New Mexicans age 12 and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and may schedule their vaccine appointment at vaccineNM.org or by calling 1-855-600-3453.
