Albuquerque, FEMA offer walk-in vaccine clinics; no appointment needed

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is easier than ever in New Mexico.

The city of Albuquerque and the Federal Emergency Management Administration are sponsoring a series of walk-in clinics over the next few weeks.

No appointment is necessary.

The sites, most in Southeast or Downtown Albuquerque, will have the Moderna vaccine available for anyone 18 and older, and insurance is not required.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health over the past two weeks, in an effort to entice a segment of the population that includes young workers, is permitting New Mexicans to schedule their own vaccine appointments online at the cvvaccine.org website.

“This was widely requested by constituents — particularly workforce age — who wish to seek out all options that work best with their personal and professional schedules,” DOH spokesman David Morgan said Thursday.

In the past, the state required preregistration on its portal and would send invitations when a vaccine appointment was available. Those who couldn’t schedule an appointment would have to wait for another invitation.

Meanwhile, heeding a DOH call for primary care providers to help get their patients vaccinated, at least one major health care provider in the state is considering increasing the number of its clinics that offer patients COVID-19 vaccines at the same time they have appointments with their medical providers for other health issues.

Presbyterian Healthcare Services spokeswoman Melanie Mozes said patients over the past few months have been contacted to see whether they would like to sign up for a vaccination, depending on whether they were in an eligible group as determined by the state.

The city’s events are aimed at increasing access and simplifying the logistics entailed in getting a vaccine.

The schedule for the walk-in clinics is:

City lot at Eastern and Palomas SE: May 3-8.

John Marshall Health and Social Services Center, 1500 Walter SE: May 10-15.

Clinic hours are noon-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Vaccines will be administered to anyone 18 and older while supplies last, no appointment necessary. Masks are required.