Seniors will receive invitations with no expiry dat
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) on Monday announced that New Mexicans 75 years and older who are registered at vaccineNM.org will no longer need event codes to schedule vaccine appointments.
Instead, seniors will receive invitations to schedule appointments. At that point, they will log in to vaccineNM.org using their confirmation code and date of birth and schedule an appointment at a time and location that is convenient for them. No event code will be required, but they will still need to make an appointment to receive their vaccine.
“New Mexico has vaccinated the large majority of our seniors, and we have reached out to nearly all the rest. We expect this change to make it easier for all remaining seniors to get their shots,” said DOH Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins.
Within the state vaccine registration system – vaccineNM.org – DOH is prioritizing invitations for Phase 1A, New Mexicans 75+, and New Mexicans 60+ with chronic health conditions. As of March 28, 70.1% of New Mexicans 75 years and older have received at least a first dose, and 57% are fully vaccinated.
DOH and the Aging and Long Term Services Department (ALTSD) continue to collaborate to ensure New Mexico’s at-risk senior population is getting vaccinated.
“Strong leadership from our Governor and our partnership with DOH has led to impressive statewide vaccination rates. Additionally, our Aging Network and the Aging and Disability Resource Center have played integral roles in getting our seniors, with and without access to technology, registered and scheduled for their vaccine. We’re pleased to see that so many of our seniors have chosen to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting the COVID-19 vaccine,” said ALTSD Cabinet Secretary Katrina Hotrum-Lopez. “We continue to work alongside DOH to expand opportunities for our senior population to get vaccinated.”
In addition to vaccineNM.org, DOH and ALTSD partnerships are providing a range of registration and vaccination supports for seniors and other New Mexicans, including:
Senior center vaccination events: typically one in each of the four quadrants of the state, each week. A minimum of 5000 doses per week is distributed through these events. To date, more than 15,000 people have been vaccinated through these clinics.
Special efforts are being made to reach seniors (and others) who are homebound, through partnerships between DOH and local emergency management services and other service providers as well as pilot programs with ALTSD.
Two call centers devoted to registering, problem-solving, and scheduling for seniors, the disabled community, and other New Mexicans who need support. New Mexicans can dial 1-855-600-3453, press option 0 for vaccine questions, and then option 4 for tech support. Those who require additional accommodations (e.g, a ride to a vaccine event or a wheelchair upon arrival) will receive a call back from the Aging and Disability Resource Center or the UNM Office of Community Health. In addition, family members or other supportive New Mexicans can provide assistance with registration.
Efforts are underway to reach out to seniors through the state’s managed care organizations. In partnership with state agencies, MCOs will contact Medicaid- and Medicare-eligible patients and work to schedule them at vaccine clinics at their convenience.
DOH officials encourage all New Mexicans 16 years and older to register for vaccine at vaccineNM.org. New Mexicans who have vaccine questions can visit vaccineNM.org/facts.
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NMDOH
Matt Bieber, Communications Director | Matt.Bieber@state.nm.us | (505) 470-2290