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vaccine covid coronavirus vaccination

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By Matthew Reichbach

The slow growth of the measles outbreak in southeast New Mexico continued this week, though health officials pointed to growing vaccination rates as a positive sign.

As of Tuesday, the state Department of Health confirmed 48 total cases of measles, with 33 of those not vaccinated, 10 with an unknown vaccination status and five who were vaccinated with at least one dose of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The vast majority, 46, remain in Lea County, with two cases in Eddy County.

NMDOH says, “The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized against measles.”

Likely because of the outbreak, more New Mexicans are getting vaccinated against measles this year than in the same time period last year.

According to the New Mexico Department of Health, the state tracked 14,757 administered doses of the MMR vaccine from February 1 to March 31 this year. In the same time period in 2024, the state tracked 8,162 doses of the MMR vaccine.

The bulk of the new vaccinations were in the state’s most populous county, Bernalillo County; in all, 5,215 doses were administered in Bernalillo County in February and March, with 1,474 in Santa Fe County, 1,228 in Doña Ana County, 1,086 in Lea County and 984 in Sandoval County.

Still, there is a long way to go. According to state Department of Health data, just 29.6 percent of Bernalillo County residents from age 18-56 have both MMR shots. Those older than 56 are considered to be immune from measles because they likely had it before the widespread adoption of the vaccine.

The cases by week:

  • Week 1 (2/9-2/15): 14
  • Week 2 (2/16-2/22): 6
  • Week 3 (2/23-3/1): 8
  • Week 4 (3/2-3/8): 6
  • Week 5 (3/9-15): 6
  • Week 6 (3/16-22): 3
  • Week 7 (3/23-29): 4
  • Week 8 (3/30-4/5): 1

While cuts to the U.S. Department of Health will reportedly strip $60 million in federal grant funding from the state DOH, a spokesman for the department told KUNM “Nothing will impede our efforts to deal with the measles outbreak.”

A number of public health offices will provide walk-in MMR vaccinations until further notice.

  • Artesia (Eddy County) Public Health Office, 1001 Memorial Dr. (575) 746-9819
  • Carlsbad (Eddy County) Public Health Office, 1306 W. Stevens St. (575) 885-4191
  • Clovis (Curry County) Public Health Office, 1216 Cameo St. (575) 763-5583
  • Ft. Sumner (De Baca County) Public Health Office, 643 A North 5th St. (575) 355-2362
  • Hobbs (Lea County) Public Health Office, 1923 N. Dal Paso St. (575) 397-2463
  • Lovington (Lea County) Public Health Office, 302 N. 5th St. (575) 396-2853
  • Portales (Roosevelt County) Public Health Office, 1513 W. Fir St. (575) 356-4453
  • Roswell (Chaves County) Public Health Office, 200 East Chisum Street. (575)-624-6050
  • Ruidoso (Lincoln County) Public Health Office, 117 Kansas City Rd. (575) 258-3252
  • Tucumcari (Quay County) Public Health Office, 310 S. 2nd St. (575) 461-2610

Additionally, NMDOH continues to host vaccination clinics throughout the state.

  • Wednesdays, April 2, 15, and 30 the Santa Fe Public Office, 605 Letrado Street will be accepting walk-in MMR vaccinations with no appointment necessary. (505) 476-2600.
  • Wednesdays in April, the Las Vegas Public Health Office, 18 Gallegos Road will be accepting walk-in MMR vaccinations with no appointment necessary. (505) 425-9368.
  • Friday, April 4, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Drive-thru MMR vaccinations will be available at 700 Park Drive. For more information, call the Carlsbad (Eddy County) Public Health Office, 1306 West Stevens. (575) 885-4191
  • Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Gallup (McKinley County) Public Health Office, 1919 College Dr. (575) 722-4391
  • Every Monday, 1-3 p.m. and every Friday 9-11 a.m. at the Las Cruces Public Health Office, 1170 N. Solano Dr., In addition to MMR vaccines, COVID-19 and flu vaccines are also available. 575-528-5001
  • Every Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. at the Las Cruces East Mesa Public Health Office, 5220 Holman Road. In addition to MMR vaccines, COVID-19 and flu vaccines are also available. 575-382-0540
  • Weekdays 8 a.m. – noon and 1 – 5 p.m. MMR vaccinations are available at the Deming (Luna County) Public Health Office, 1510 S. Slate St. Please call ahead to confirm nurse availability: 575-546-2771
  • 8 a.m. – noon every Tuesday at the Albuquerque Midtown Public Health Office, 2400 Wellesley Dr. NE. (505) 841-4170
  • 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Raton Public Health Office, 226 East 4th Avenue. (575) 445-3601
  • 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. every Thursday at the Española Public Health Office, 2010 Industrial Park Rd. (505) 753-2794
  • 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. every Friday at the Taos Public Health Office, 1400 Weimer Road. (575) 758-4719

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