SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Time is running out for New Mexico to meet the Governor’s 60% COVID-19 vaccination goal before entering into a full reopening by the end of the month. If the state will make that goal or if reopening will be pushed back is a question state leaders are still grappling with.
The reopening goal was one of the focuses of the state’s bi-weekly COVID-19 news conference Wednesday. While data shows the state needs more than 21,000 people to get fully vaccinated across Wednesday and Thursday, Department Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins and Human Services Department Secretary Dr. David Scrase remain confident the state will meet the goal.
“It ain’t over ’til its over, so we’re working really hard on this,” said Dr. Scrase during Wednesday’s news conference. “We’ll all sit down on Friday after we get the Thursday data in and take a look at where we’re at and I’m confident that we’ll end up doing the right thing for the people of New Mexico.”
In order for the state to reopen by the end of June, the state needs to meet the 60% vaccination goal by the end of Thursday, June 17. The state needs 21,307 booster shots or single-dose Johnson & Johnson shots to go before the state will hit its 60% goal.
In a late-April news conference, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated that if 60% of eligible New Mexicans can get fully vaccinated, the state will reopen without capacity limits. The governor’s office has also stated all counties will remain in the Turquoise Level until two weeks after the state reaches the 60% vaccination rate.
That’s state’s efforts to increase vaccination have also increased over the last several weeks. On Monday, the state began offering $100 cash or gift card payouts to anyone getting fully vaccinated before June 17. About 14,000 people have taken advantage of the added incentive since Monday. The state has seen a noticeable bump of people either scheduling or getting their booster shots or Johnson and Johnson vaccines since Monday, as well.
“I think at this point, we’re really working with people who have up to this point been somewhat undecided about whether or not to get the vaccine,” said Dr. David Scrase. “They are our population that we’re really trying to reach out to.”
In addition to this week’s $100 payouts, the state’s Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes incentive program is offering $10 million in total prize money alongside prizes and awards to those who receive their vaccinations. The governor’s office said last week that nearly 400,000 New Mexicans had signed up for the sweepstakes. The first drawing for the sweepstakes will take place on Friday, June 18.
During the Tuesday news conference, Collins stated 67.7% of New Mexicans ages 16 and older have received at least their first shot while 58.7% of New Mexicans 16 and older are fully vaccinated.
Some residents have expressed concern that they are fully vaccinated but can’t find their data in the state’s system. The following scenarios are common:
- Residents are getting texts from the Department of Health saying they are due for a vaccine when they are fully vaccinated
- Residents registered for the vaccine online using a nickname and would like to confirm with the DOH that the state has properly captured their vaccine record
- Residents have checked for their COVID vaccine record online at vaxviewnm.org and cannot find their information
- Residents received one or both vaccines out of state and New Mexico doesn’t have their vaccination records
In all instances, residents are asked to email an image of your vaccination card to the Department of Health at covid.vaccines@state.nm.us. If you don’t have a vaccination card avalable, email the DOH your full, legal name and date of birth.
You can also call the DOH help desk at 833-882-6454 and provide your full, legal name and date of birth.
