Health Department urges vaccination as influenza cases rise statewide

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health is urging residents to get vaccinated as flu cases climb across the state and the nation.  

Emergency room visits for flu-like illness have jumped from 7.1% to 10.3% of all visits compared to this time last year, according to NMDOH data.  

“It’s a bad flu year, with influenza activity very high in New Mexico and across the country,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for NMDOH. “The current vaccine is solidly effective against the circulating influenza virus, including new strains.”  

NMDOH recommends yearly flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months of age and older each flu season, which runs from October to May. Vaccination is especially important for high-risk groups including:  

• Children younger than 5 years old, but especially children younger than 2 years old. 
• Pregnant individuals up to two weeks postpartum. 
• People aged 50 and older. 
• People of any age with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, lung or heart disease. 
• People who are immunocompromised. 
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.  

Despite changes in federal recommendations, the flu vaccine will continue to be covered by Medicare Part B, New Mexico Medicaid (Turquoise Care) and all private insurance 

For children 18 and under, vaccines are available with or without health insurance from a Vaccines for Children provider. Information on the Vaccines for Children program can be found at https://www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/idb/imp/vfc/. 

Public health offices offer flu shots to all children and underinsured or uninsured adults. Anyone having trouble scheduling a flu shot can call the NMDOH Helpline: 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773) for assistance.