NMMS News:

Over the last 17 months in New Mexico, health care workers have made incredible sacrifices to ensure that the health care needs of New Mexicans have been met.

The State of New Mexico, its people, and its health care organizations will forever be indebted to the health care workers who have put their lives on the line to save others.

To stop the spread of COVID-19, health care organizations must lead by example and ensure that all health care workers in New Mexico accept the COVID-19 vaccine.

The New Mexico Medical Society, New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council, and the New Mexico Nurses Association applaud Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Acting Secretary of Health Dr. David Scrase for requiring that all hospital and congregate care workers be fully vaccinated, unless those workers qualify for a medical exemption.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, New Mexico health care organizations have been committed to protecting the health and well-being of health care personnel, the patients they serve, their families, and New Mexico communities as a whole. Unfortunately, highly contagious variants of COVID-19 continue to place the health and well-being of patients and health care personnel at risk.

COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective at stopping the spread of the virus. Unvaccinated health care workers are more likely to contract COVID-19, which places their co-workers and patients at risk of becoming infected. Most importantly, unvaccinated health care workers pose a serious risk to the health and safety of unvaccinated children and the immunocompromised.

Health care organizations in New Mexico will continue to do everything in their power to stop the spread of COVID-19 and provide the best possible care for patients who may contract the virus. They remind all New Mexicans that COVID-19 vaccinations are the most effective tool we have to stop the spread of COVID-19.

New Mexicans can learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines and schedule an appointment at VaccineNM.org.