SANTA FE – State health officials sounded an optimistic note Wednesday about progress in containing the coronavirus pandemic amid a gradual increase in federal vaccine supplies to New Mexico and a downward statewide trend in infection rates, deaths and hospitalizations.
Nearly 9,000 people are receiving immunization shots each day across the state, as the weekly federal allotment of vaccine doses increases from 56,000 this week to 59,500 next week, state Health Secretary Tracie Collins announced.
State health officials say they are redoubling efforts to distribute vaccines in an equitable way to people at the greatest risk of severe health consequences from infection.
New Mexico has expanded eligibility beyond initial categories such as medical personnel, nursing home residents and staff members to include all people older than 75 and other adults at high risk of several health complications from the virus. That opens up a huge eligible population of about 900,000 people, within a state of 2.1 million, who will take several months to vaccinate even as the supply chain expands.
About 67,000 state residents have been fully vaccinated – or about 3.2% of the population. An estimated 225,000 people have received just the first shot out of two.
Geographic disparities are emerging in vaccination rates, as the state publicly tracks doses in each of the state’s 33 counties.
Republican state Sen. Craig Brandt of Rio Rancho raised concerns with the Department of Health that his constituents may be falling behind in Sandoval County, where six vaccine shots have been administered per 100,000 people – versus 24 in Santa Fe County, the seat of state government.
He wrote the Department of Health on Tuesday and received no immediate response.
In a news conference, Collins said those disparities largely are based on a combination of vaccine eligibility, the local capacity at clinics and hospitals to administer shots, and attitudes toward taking the vaccine.
Collins said her agency has convened a policy group regarding equitable vaccine distribution.
“We have an equity group that is giving us input and guidance on ensuring that our approaches to vaccine distribution really do reach all communities throughout the state,” Collins said. “And understanding what additional efforts and activities we need to have in place to make sure it’s not just the affluent, with internet access and nice phones who can access to registration app” for the vaccine.
Some health care specialists are urging the state to conduct door-to-door outreach.
At the same time, Collins acknowledged that residents of New Mexico have been crossing state lines in search of vaccines in Texas, where individual clinics immunize thousands of people a day on a first-come, first-served basis.
The vaccine registration system in New Mexico occasionally alerts people on short notice if excess doses are available at a nearby clinic, to limit waste from spoilage. Those invitations also may be quickly rescinded.
Human Service Secretary David Scrase delved into sports metaphors to convey his optimism at declining average rates of infection and hospitalizations from the virus.
“We believe now enough people have been vaccinated, even though it’s 10%, we’re starting to see the benefit there,” he said. “This feels like the beginning of a fourth-quarter comeback.”
The number of new daily cases statewide has declined from 997 on Jan. 19 to 669 on Tuesday. Average daily deaths have inched down from 25.9 two weeks ago to 19.9.
Scrase said that state is exploring the possibility of financial incentives that encourage people to take the vaccine. He said public demand is likely to keep pace with supplies until the summer months.
The goal set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of inoculating anywhere between 70% and 85% of the population is aimed at achieving herd immunity to conquer the outbreak.
Collins confirmed that teachers are receiving no special eligibility for vaccination, as local school districts have permission to restart in-person teaching for all ages on Feb. 8. Reopening decisions are being left to individual school districts under detailed state safety guidelines.
