Seniors need help getting vaccinated
Vaccinating thousands of people against COVID-19 is no small task. A cadre of Holy Cross Medical Center health professionals and administrators, along with the town of Taos, Taos County and volunteers have handled the task admirably since the vaccine became available in mid-December.
They’ve set up vaccine events at the hospital, Taos Living Center and Taos Middle School. They’ve worked to keep people safe while they receive their vaccinations. Scheduling is tricky, especially in winter when situations such as the snowstorm Taos had earlier this week can force cancellations. It takes coordination with medical staff and those tracking the vaccinations so the booster shot can be administered three weeks after the initial vaccine.
The system isn’t perfect, in particular for one group of people who should be able to get the vaccine currently under state guidelines: elderly people. Several people have called and emailed Taos News in the last week to voice their frustrations at being unable to register for the vaccine through the state’s website. All of them have been elderly or relatives of senior citizens.
The first phase of the vaccination effort was for hospital personnel; residents and staff of long-term care facilities; medical first responders; congregate setting workers; people providing direct medical care and other in-person services and home-based health care and hospice workers.
The second phase, which the state is currently in, gives priority to people over age
75 and people who are 16 plus and at risk of COVID complications.
Seniors who aren’t in nursing homes have particular challenges with getting to vaccine locations: They may not be able to drive and may have no one to drive them; they may struggle to make an appointment over the phone, much less a computer. There’s no easy answer and part of the limiting factor is how many vaccines are available.
Jim Schultz and the organizers of TENT – Taos Elders and Neighbors Together – are helping their members who don’t have internet access register for the vaccine. More efforts like that could help seniors – perhaps through the Taos County senior centers or churches, if they are not already doing so.
Certainly, as more vaccines are shipped to the county, the wise folks who’ve done such a great job getting them to people will figure out a way to set up more vaccination clinics around communities, making it easier for the elderly, disabled and others to get their shots.
Retired nurses and health professionals are ready to step in and help administer vaccines. Perhaps the governor could also call on the National Guard and those familiar with the national Incident Command System to help get the refrigerated vaccines to more locations quickly.
As the governor has noted, the faster people get vaccinated and continue to get tested, the quicker New Mexico can safely get back to open businesses, students back in classrooms and life a bit more like normal.
Register for your vaccine at